BOSTON– The Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering leadership in the life sciences, has rebranded as the Termeer Institute, marking a new chapter in its mission to support innovation and community in the pursuit of cures for rare diseases. This transition reflects the organization’s broader vision to expand its global influence and deepen its focus on the human dimension of healthcare innovation.
The name change underscores the Institute’s evolving role as a hub for nurturing life science entrepreneurs, building values-driven networks, and convening stakeholders to accelerate therapeutic breakthroughs. It also reaffirms the legacy of its namesake, Henri Termeer, a pioneering biotech executive known for his patient-focused leadership.
Belinda Termeer, President and Co-Founder of the Institute, emphasized the continuity of Henri Termeer’s philosophy. “Henri believed in empowering others to lead,” she said. “This evolution honors that belief while positioning the Institute to make an even greater impact.”
The Termeer Institute’s upcoming annual event, Connections Empowering Cures, will spotlight the accomplishments of its growing community. Set for June 17, the gathering will celebrate 83 Termeer Fellows and Scholars, alongside 80 mentors and advisors, all committed to advancing healthcare through collaboration and inclusion.
Catharine Smith, Executive Director of the Termeer Institute, described the organization’s core mission as addressing a critical and often overlooked element in life sciences: the human factor. “We’re not just building companies—we’re building a community of leaders who shape the future of healthcare through passion, purpose, and connection,” she said.
Geoff McDonough, a longtime mentor and co-founder of the Termeer Fellows program, has been appointed as the Institute’s inaugural Board Chair. A veteran leader in biotech, McDonough said the Institute’s work is about fostering bold leadership and diverse perspectives to accelerate transformative therapies for patients. “Henri’s legacy continues to inspire a generation of life science leaders,” he said. “The Termeer Institute exists to sustain that legacy by supporting people who bring vision and courage to the hardest challenges in medicine.”
Since its founding in 2019, the Termeer Institute has supported a global network of innovators across industry and academia. Its programming has included over 250 hours of leadership development and mentorship, with 150 hours dedicated to one-on-one coaching and consultation. The Institute’s Fellows have collectively raised more than $3.2 billion in funding, with 82% of their companies still active and 70% of Fellows remaining in CEO roles.
Through its continued focus on mentorship, inclusion, and collaborative leadership, the Termeer Institute aims to improve the odds of bringing new, life-changing treatments to patients—and to do so in a way that centers humanity at every step. (Source: IANS)
