INFECTA and AHAM Vastgoed to Develop an Innovative Clinical Research Facility at the Leiden BioScience Park

Leiden, 26 November 2025 – INFECTA, a Dutch clinical research organization specializing in infectious diseases, has signed a cooperation agreement with AHAM Vastgoed for the realization of a clinical research facility in Leiden. AHAM Vastgoed, wholly owned by the charitable Sint Antonius Foundation, will oversee the development and construction of the building, which will comprise 4,000 m² GFA. From 2028 onward, INFECTA will conduct its studies in this fully tailored facility.

The new facility is the first unit in the Netherlands specifically designed for infectious disease research. The INFECTA unit will include 20 hotel-style rooms for study participants, an outpatient clinic, an analysis laboratory, and a small-scale production lab for manufacturing infectious agents. The design features high-end safety measures, including non-crossing traffic routes and separate air-handling systems for the research unit and office spaces, ensuring optimal safety for staff and study participants. The comfortable environment and pleasant atmosphere contribute to the well-being of participants in clinical studies.

“This collaboration is a great match between two organizations both driven by societal impact,” says Meta Roestenberg, co-founder and CEO/CSO at INFECTA. “AHAM’s charitable character aligns perfectly with our mission to make infectious disease control accessible and affordable.”

Ingrid de Visser-Kamerling, co-founder and COO at INFECTA, adds: “This dedicated facility enables us to conduct early-phase research according to the highest quality and safety standards. By bringing all functionalities under one roof, from clinic to laboratory and production, we can carry out complex clinical studies more efficiently and rapidly generate meaningful data.”

AHAM Vastgoed is a real-estate company more than a century old with an idealistic shareholder. The organization aims to develop socially driven real estate with a distinctive purpose alongside commercial properties. AHAM appointed Arjen Pels Rijcken as project lead to find a partner in the effort to establish an innovative institute for medical applications, particularly to help people in the poorest regions of the world who cannot afford medicines. By joining forces, INFECTA obtained financial support, and a site study was initiated at the LBSP in Leiden/Oegstgeest. In close consultation with the University, a suitable plot was identified and the renowned architectural firm Winhov was selected. Notably, the research performed in this building will combine both profit and non-profit studies to achieve the best medical solutions and ensure sustainable operations.

Tim van Schijndel, managing director of AHAM Vastgoed, explains: “By making this building possible, there is a strong chance that we can help improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people through the research conducted by Ingrid, Meta, and their team. We couldn’t imagine a better combination of the goals of our shareholder, the Sint Antonius Foundation, and AHAM’s real-estate expertise. Working with Ingrid and Meta gives our team tremendous energy.”

With the new facility, INFECTA can significantly expand the capacity for early-phase clinical research on infectious diseases in the Netherlands. Its location in Leiden, at the BioScience Park, the country’s leading life sciences hub and close to academic and commercial partners, strengthens collaboration within the Dutch infectious diseases network.

The new clinical unit is expected to become operational at the end of 2028.