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The Termeer Foundation Announces Recipients of 2021 Henri Termeer Fellowship

Apr 21, 2021

Recent Class of Emerging Life Science Entrepreneurs and First-time CEOs Cited for Initial Success as Biotech Leaders and Potential for Future Success

BOSTON, April 21, 2021 — The Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting life science innovators and catalyzing the creation of new medicines, today announced that the Class of 2021 Henri Termeer Fellowships have been named; the latest to receive this honor within the Fellowship program which began in 2018.

The Henri Termeer Fellowship is awarded annually to those emerging leaders within the life science industry who have shown initial promise as company founders, CEOs or heads of life science organizations and are dedicated to developing life-changing treatments for patients. Fellows receive membership in The Henri Termeer Network, a select group of emerging and established healthcare leaders who provide access to their collective and valuable industry experience to help all Termeer Fellows advance their businesses and scientific programs. Additional Fellowship benefits include quarterly mentor presentations, monthly peer-to-peer learning presentations, individual 1:1 mentoring, and access to other events and initiatives sponsored by The Termeer Foundation.

“This year’s group of Termeer Fellows represents the best of what the life science industry has to offer in its future leaders, as they are extraordinary young men and women who inspire us with their talents and deep commitment to patients,” said Belinda Termeer, President of The Termeer Foundation. “Each Fellow brings a unique perspective to their company, and collectively have the potential to make a deep impact in patients’ lives and continue to influence the life science industry with future developments.”

The 2021 Fellows include: Jenna Baker, CEO, Gypsy Basin Genomics, Inc.; Jacob Becraft, CEO, Strand Therapeutics; Martin Bruncko, CEO, Camarque Bioscience; Nick Davis, CEO, Theon Therapeutics; Amy Ripka, CEO, Lucy Therapeutics; and Rachel Salzman, CEO, UltraSquared Bio. This year’s Class are focused in the following therapeutics areas: RNA therapeutics, rare genetic neuromuscular disorders, genomic testing for HPV cancers, mitochondrial therapeutics, immunotherapy, and ultra-rare disease gene therapy. Information about the 2021 Class of Termeer Fellows can be found here.

“When we established the Termeer Fellows program in 2018, it was the Foundation’s goal to identify and celebrate the future leaders of science and medicine,” said Alan Walts, Co-Founder and Member of the Board of Directors, The Termeer Foundation. “Henri Termeer wrote the book on supporting the next-generation of biotechnology trailblazers and we wanted to be true to his legacy. The Class of 2021, much like the previous classes, represents the innovation, entrepreneurship and vision necessary for establishing companies that have the potential to transform the life science industry.”

About The Termeer Foundation

The Termeer Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to connect the world of healthcare innovators until every patient has a cure. We build and support an ever-expanding network of biotech entrepreneurs, CEOs, academics, and other innovators because we believe that helping people succeed will ultimately help their innovations reach patients. Our support includes mentoring, networking, professional development, and financial grants intended to facilitate connections, break down silos, strengthen skillsets and ultimately enable a diverse array of current and future healthcare leaders who bring much-needed solutions to patients. Find out more about The Termeer Foundation and how you can support, engage with, and join our network at www.termeerfoundation.org or on LinkedIn @TermeerFoundation.

Contact:
Erica Mawby-Roche
Termeer Foundation
erica@termeerfoundation.org

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Building a successful biotech company requires more than money and an innovative approach to treat disease. It also requires a leader who is passionate, values-driven and people-focused — willing to go the distance to ensure patients get the life-changing therapies they need.

The Termeer Foundation’s Fellows Program is uniquely focused on this third ingredient, a distinctive program dedicated to supporting the person at the helm of a growing company. Through its multi-faceted curriculum and diverse network of innovators and entrepreneurs, the Termeer Fellows Program provides professional development through specific skills, competency growth, development opportunities, mentorship, executive coaching, and network building for first-time CEOs of early-stage or non-profit biotech and life sciences organizations. These offerings are designed to empower biotech leaders and provide them with the tools, resources, and support they need to build a culture and company that will thrive.

The Fellows Program, which began in 2018, includes a variety of both in-person and virtual events. These sessions cover a diverse range of topics, including personal leadership, team development, DEI initiatives, communication, executive presence, professional presentation, transparency, board management, strategy, problem-solving, change management, decision-making, and human resources-focused topics such as hiring, recruiting, and retention.

To date, 61 fellows have participated in the program, and the feedback has been extremely positive. In a survey of the 2023 Termeer Fellows, 100% said they acquired a variety of resources to continue to refine their development as a leader and that they feel connected to a network of professionals who can guide and assist them.

Because leadership, particularly of an early-stage biotech company, can be a lonely, isolating experience at times, the Fellows Program also helps foster a sense of community and support among the fellows in each class. In the 2023 Termeer Fellows survey, 100% indicated they have a strong professional network of peer biotech founders after participating in the program.

Each year, incoming fellows are selected for the Termeer Fellows Program through a competitive, stepwise process that begins with an open, online application. This selection process reflects the values that lie at the core of the Foundation’s mission and the Fellows Program: responsibility, passion, innovation, humility, and connectivity. (Applications for the 2025 fellowship year will be available online on September 30.)

As Safia Rizvi, CEO of CILA Therapeutics and a 2023 Termeer Fellow, remarked, “The Termeer Fellowship has been a transformative experience for me, both professionally and personally. It offered me the chance to learn from my peers, mentors, foundation members, and the numerous resources provided throughout the program. Most importantly, I have found a community.”