Jacques van Rooyen graduated from Stellenbosch University with a PhD (Physiology) in 1994. He worked in the Heart Research Unit of Prof Lionel Opie at the University of Cape Town and took up an academic position as senior lecturer at the Stellenbosch University in 1994. His research focused on the effect of dietary oil intervention in cardiac health. He became a leading researcher on the effect of red palm oil in cardiac health and protection and his team published more than 20 papers on red palm oil supplementation and heart protection. His total scientific contribution include more than 30 peer reviewed papers, 12 MSc and PhD students. In 2006 he also pursued an industry approach and encapsulated red palm in a hard gelatin capsule. In 2011 his South African company, Bio-Cap Technologies, filed 3 patents on a specific delivery mechanisms and also designed proprietary formulations with red palm oil. From 2007-2013 he was Honorary Professor and Adjunct Professor at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa. Currently he is the Vice-President of the USA based Binutra Inc and Executive Director of Bio-Cap Technologies in South Africa, two companies that are involved in novel delivery systems, equipment development and proprietary formulations.

His research focused on the effect of dietary oil intervention in cardiac health.