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Meet Gilbert team:

Hans Kersbergen

Name: 

Hans Kersbergen

Role title: 

System Architect

Joined Gilbert: 

2024

Office location: 

HTC 27, Eindhoven
Mask group (18)

Author:

Maurits Huigen, CEO

Can you tell us about your background?

My educational background is electrotechnical engineering, but I started my career as a software engineer for various technical solutions. After working 8 years with Cap Gemini, I joined Philips Healthcare where I soon became a software architect. After Philips Healthcare I worked for 5 years in Signify, the former Philips Lighting. Looking at my own career, you can see that I have had a consistent line of interest in healthcare and technology related work. All in all, I bring 20 years of experience in the High Tech industry.

What is your role in Gilbert, what do you do?

I am the principal System Architect, which means that it is my job to coordinate the various development activities for our Smart Precision Inhaler. And that is quite an interesting job! Not only is Electrospray a new technology to be used in a liquid inhaler, but there are also lots of dependencies between the sub systems in the device and we need to make sure that it all works properly together. Also, looking ahead, I am working at technical roadmaps to make sure the product is ready for the future.

Who is involved in the development of the Gilbert Smart Precision Inhaler? 

We work together with Unitron who is our main development partner for the Smart Precision Inhaler. They perform engineering & development activities and they also have manufacturing capabilities for the future production of our products. Next to that we work with Philips Engineering Solutions and NHL Stenden, with whom we collaborate on the research of our EHDA solution.

What does the medical device development pathway look like?

The difference with other (non-healthcare related) products is that the whole development process is highly regulated. You need to comply with specific guidelines and (ISO) standards and that starts straight from the beginning of the development process all the way through the lifecycle of the product. We have a Quality Management System in place that we need to strictly adhere to. Erik van der Heide is our QA-RA manager and we work closely together on this.

What do you like most about working for Gilbert?

I guess that directly relates to my interest in advanced technology and healthcare. The idea that I can work on something meaningful gives me a lot of purpose. Respiratory drug delivery is 100% in that category! Also working for a startup after 20 years of corporate life is quite interesting. I used to be part of these big organizations, where my role was very specialised and focused on the software domain. But now at Gilbert, I enjoy being involved in broader aspects of the business, even beyond technology development.

Gilbert is developing the next generation of soft mist inhalers based on a proprietary electrospray (Electro Hydrodynamic Atomization or EHDA) technology to redefine treatment for lung patients. Gilbert’s breath actuated smart precision inhaler creates a monodispersed soft mist aerosol, with a customizable droplet size enabling more precise targeting of drugs to desired regions of the lungs, which has the potential to improve the efficacy and safety of treatments. Electrospray enables gentle, efficient delivery of both small and large molecule therapies in both solution and suspension formulations.

Visit us at Gilbert | Redefining treatment for lung patients, follow us on Linkedin or contact us at info@gilbert.eu to learn if electrospray is suitable for your application.

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