New York, NY – October 2, 2026 – Today, about 500 high school students from 15 schools across New York and New Jersey will take part in the Fourth Annual Life Science Cares Day, organized by Life Science Cares New York and Science in the City. From 10 AM to 2 PM, students will visit 10 leading life science and research hubs throughout the region.
Through hands-on activities, lab tours, and conversations with scientists, entrepreneurs, and healthcare innovators, Life Science Cares Day gives students a firsthand look at careers in the life sciences. The program is designed to spark curiosity, expand access to STEM opportunities, and help students see themselves as future leaders in the life sciences ecosystem.
Life Science Cares Day launched in the fall of 2023 at Cure, where CEO Seema Kumar, who also serves on the Board of Managers of Life Science Cares NY, was instrumental in establishing the program. Cure continues to serve as a host site. “Since the first Life Science Cares Day, Cure has been proud to welcome these students to our campus and our wider ecosystem of education, people, and insights,” said Kumar. “We look forward to this day each year as an opportunity to engage with the next generation of leaders and show them where a STEM education can take them in New York’s life science community.”
Additional sites include Alexandria LaunchLabs, Taystee Lab Building, Innovation Triangle-West Harlem, the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), the American Museum of Natural History, New York Blood Center Enterprises, the New York Structural Biology Center, Princeton BioLabs, the Ford Center Incubator at The Rockefeller University, and Sanofi. Together, these sites span startup incubators, academic research centers, a world-class museum, and global pharmaceutical operations, giving students a look at the full range of places where life science happens.
Building on the momentum of previous years, the 2026 program will bring together more than 20 companies and 125 life sciences professionals to mentor and engage students throughout the day. Participating organizations include pharmaceutical and biotech companies, research institutions, executive search and accounting firms, startup incubators, and educational organizations.
Students will extract DNA, experience science through virtual reality, discover the biology of taste buds, tour working laboratories, and learn how different forms of medicine are delivered. They will also take part in professional development and financial literacy sessions, leaving with a broader understanding of the many career paths available across the industry.
Kyesha Ruffin, CEO of Science in the City, has been a partner since the beginning, bringing students together and ensuring they have access to the wide range of careers the industry offers.
“So many students don’t pursue careers in science simply because opportunity in this industry hasn’t reached every community equally,” said Ruffin. “Life Science Cares Day changes that. We’re not just giving students a tour — we’re giving them access, connection, and a reason to believe this industry has a place for them.”
“Every year, more students, schools, and companies participate in Life Science Cares Day,” said Pablo Legorreta, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Royalty Pharma, the event’s lead sponsor. “Students walk away with a new sense of what’s possible for their future, and participating companies and their employees get to share their passion for science and inspire the next generation. That two-way impact is what makes Life Science Cares Day so special. Royalty Pharma is proud to be the lead sponsor of this event.”
For Shenneil Cunningham, the impact of Life Science Cares Day has come full circle. After first participating as a high school student, Cunningham returned to support the event as a staff member. “Sometimes students have the potential and ambition but simply need the opportunity to see what is possible for them,” she said. “Being able to interact with professionals, experience the life sciences beyond the classroom, and see different career paths firsthand can completely change the way a student thinks about their future.”
Participating high schools
- Thurgood Marshall Academy
- DREAM Charter High School
- Cristo Rey New York High School
- Young Women’s Leadership School
- Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy BELA
- Laboratory School of Finance and Technology
- John Dewey High School
- Mott Hall 2 High School (BioQuest)
- WHEELS (BioQuest)
- Mt Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education Program
- Vanguard High School
- Hunts Point Alliance for Children
- Dover High School
- Marion P. Thomas Charter School
- Middlesex County STEM Charter School
Participating companies
- BlueRock Therapeutics
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine
- Perlmutter Cancer Center
- Excelsior Sciences
- Deerfield Management
- Lexeo Therapeutics
- Wandercraft
- HYPOTHEkids
- Russell Reynolds Associates
- Biobus
- Genspace
- Nilo
- RSM
- Biohub
- Deloitte
- Aquestive Therapeutics
- Students 2 Science
- Ricovr
- Sanofi
- Apertura
Participating sites
- Alexandria Launch Labs
- Cure
- Taystee Labs
- The CUNY Advanced Science Research Center
- American Museum of Natural History
- New York Blood Enterprise
- New York Structural Biology Center
- Princeton Bio Labs
- Ford Center Incubator at the Rockefeller University
- Sanofi
About Life Science Cares
Life Science Cares activates the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partners with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in our communities. Currently operating in major life sciences hubs across the country, Life Science Cares builds deep and meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations focused on access to basic needs, education, and opportunity. Learn more at Life Science Cares.
Contact: Elizabeth Fassberg
[email protected] 646-339-4760