Team of 22 life science executives prepared to hike the White Mountains to benefit Life Science Cares this month
Not only will they reach geographic great heights, the 2023 Timmerman Traverse team has surpassed their goal of raising $1 million to fight poverty and inequity in five life science industry hubs. They’re not done yet—the team continues their outreach and training right up until the August 20th kickoff.
“Biotech is an industry that attracts people with brilliant minds and caring hearts,” said Luke Timmerman, founder of the biotech journalism outlet Timmerman Report and the Timmerman Traverse. “These hikes require people to apply their entrepreneurial talents to uplift the most vulnerable members of our communities. The work isn’t easy. But it’s immensely rewarding. It expands the way we think about making an impact in the world. Thanks to this year’s participants and sponsors for raising the bar to new heights.” 
The 3rd annual Traverse is a three-day, 23-mile hike across the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and this year will include 22 industry leaders, each of whom raised a minimum of $25,000 benefitting Life Science Cares and its network of nonprofit partners dedicated to serving communities in Greater Boston, Philadelphia, New York, San Diego, and the Bay Area.
“I’m honored to be part of the 2023 Timmerman Traverse, a team of executives passionate about dismantling poverty in our communities. Everyone has the right to basic needs – food, shelter, education, and access to opportunity. Actions will always speak louder than words and the dedication of this team and the support of our sponsors will have a lasting, positive impact on future generations. Thanks to those who generously donated – whether it be time or dollars or both,” said Katherine Andersen, Head of Life Science & Healthcare at HSBC.
Along with presenting sponsors HSBC and Fenwick & West, lead sponsors include Johnson & Johnson Innovation, The Davis Companies, Goodwin, Bank of America, RA Capital, MPM Capital/BioImpact and the Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation.
“The resounding success of the Timmerman Traverse Hike demonstrates the commitment of our life science community. Together, we’re not just taking strides in science, but also in battling poverty and challenging inequities,” said Effie Toshav, Partner at Fenwick & West.
Other sponsors include 5AM Ventures, Bain Capital Life Sciences, Browne Consulting, Boston Properties, CG Life, Clarion, Cooley, Deloitte, EcoR1 Capital, Eli Lilly and Company, Enavate Sciences, Goldman Sachs, Invus, Jones Zafari Group, Latham & Watkins, Royalty Pharma, TD Cowen, Third Rock Ventures, Sofinnova, Alexandria Real Estate, Alnylam, Breakthrough Properties, Consort Partners, CRISPR Therapeutics, Danforth Advisors, DCF Group, Flagship Pioneering, Frazier, Janitronics, Jefferies, MacDougall Biomedical Communications, Metabolon, New England Biolabs, Qiming Venture, SmartLabs, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation, Trammel Crow, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation, Wolf Greenfield, CBRE, Charles River Labs, Hughes Marino and SROne.
The Timmerman Traverse has raised $2.7 million for LSC since its inception in 2021. All proceeds will be used to continue funding programs that focus on eliminating poverty by providing access to basic needs, education, and opportunity.
“It seems there are truly no limits to how we can harness the efforts and energy of life science leaders and the broader community to fight poverty and provide opportunity to our neighbors in need,” said Sarah MacDonald, President of Life Science Cares. “We are grateful for the continued support shown to us and our nonprofit partners by Luke, the team and our sponsors, whose generosity will have a long-lasting impact in our communities.”
DONATE: To support the Traverse, visit the Timmerman Traverse 2023 website where you can donate directly to the effort.
The 2023 Traverse team includes:
- Katherine Andersen, Head of Life Science & Healthcare, HSBC
- Lalo Flores, former CEO, Century Therapeutics
- Kaye Foster, coach/advisor, BCG & ARCH
- Hamid Ghanadan, founder and CEO of The Linus Group
- Sandra Glucksmann, entrepreneur, Cedilla Therapeutics
- Sheila Gujrathi, Board Chair of Ventyx, ADARx and ImmPACT Bio
- Art Krieg, founder and CSO, Checkmate Pharmaceuticals
- June Lee, venture partner, 5AM Ventures, Board of Directors, CEO, Stealth biotech, Adjunct Professor, UCSF
- Ted Love, entrepreneur, former CEO, Global Blood Therapeutics, board of managers, LSC Bay Area
- Lydia Meyer-Turkson, senior director, early innovation partnering, Johnson & Johnson
- Robert Nicol, venture partner, RA Capital
- Ben Portney, investment partner, Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z)
- Raju Prasad, CFO, CRISPR Therapeutics
- Uciane Scarlett, principal, MPM Capital
- David Schenkein, general partner, GV
- Tim Springer, Professor, Harvard Medical School
- Luke Timmerman, founder, Timmerman Report
- Effie Toshav, partner, Fenwick & West
- Samantha Truex, CEO, Upstream Bio; board of directors, LSC Boston
- Andrea van Elsas, Partner, Third Rock Ventures
- Kaja Wasik, co-founder, CSO, Variant Bio
Also, for the first time, the team has invited a Project Onramp alum to join. Kamila De Andrade is a first-generation LatinX undergrad student who first interned with Apic Bio in Summer 2021 and then at Pfizer in Summer 2022, both times in research roles. She will graduate with a biology and chemistry degree from Salem State University in May of 2024 and currently works for Biogen.
A special thanks to Heath Lukatch, managing partner, Red Tree Venture Capital and Yael Weiss, CEO, Mahzi Therapeutics, each of whom signed up and fundraised to participate, but had conflicts with the hike itself.
DONATE: To support the Traverse, visit the Timmerman Traverse 2023 website where you can donate directly to the effort.
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