Life Science Cares was founded in 2016 by a consortium of life science executives on a mission to give back beyond their 9-5 commitment to improving health. The organization is a collective effort of life science companies to eliminate the impacts of poverty on our neighbors and currently operates in five biotech hubs: Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and New York.

In each of these areas, there exists a cluster of life science companies and in their shadow, thousands living in poverty. We believe that with so much success, wealth, and intellect in our industry, we can’t sit back while so many are suffering.

We are grateful and humbled that our colleagues in the life sciences see the importance of our model of “collective impact.” Dozens of industry leaders sit on the boards of Life Science Cares’ five affiliates. 

Here’s what they have to say

“The life sciences industry in the Bay Area and around the country is uniquely suited to help address society’s biggest challenges and to employ talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. Life Science Cares Bay Area partners with companies and nonprofits to create new opportunities for people of all backgrounds to enter our industry.”

—Dr. Ted W. Love, former President & CEO of Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT); Board Chair, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO); Board of Managers, Life Science Cares Bay Area

“I witnessed firsthand the impact that Life Science Cares had in Boston. When I returned to the Bay Area, I saw the need and opportunity to replicate a lot of what had been done in Boston to serve disadvantaged communities here. Thankfully, many of my colleagues agreed, and we quickly assembled a stellar board of managers who have jumped in enthusiastically with their time and resources to accelerate our launch into the Bay Area. I want to thank all the individuals and organizations that have made our first year so successful. As we shared at our inaugural Impact Festival, we already are making a difference and have the potential now to do so much more.”

—George Scangos, PhD, Former CEO Vir, Biogen, Exelixis; Board of Managers, Life Science Cares Bay Area

“I got involved with Life Science Cares because the mission and means are every bit as well-aligned towards alleviating human suffering as are the business plans and committed time and capital in the life science enterprise that we engage in every day, professionally. But the urgency and potential for impacts are way more immediate and local. In our life sciences community, we do game-changing innovation work at companies located throughout the Bay Area–often making significant financial, as well as health outcomes, returns for our enterprise efforts. We “do well” by “doing good,” as they say. But all the while, in the very same zip codes where we live and work, fellow neighbors experience a totally different reality: poverty and unequal access to security and economic opportunity. The contrast is hard to ignore. Life Science Cares provides a powerful lever for moving some of our collective industry resources of time, capital, and creativity towards bridging these inequity gaps. And with volunteer opportunities throughout the Bay Area and by creating more network connections and deeper local community engagement in the process of giving back—what’s not to love?” 

—Nina Kjellson, General Partner, Canaan Co-Chair; Board of Managers, Life Science Cares Bay Area

“Our industry makes an enormous difference in peoples’ lives through its creativity, collaboration, and relentless pursuit of solving complex health problems. I have watched LSC lead the way in channeling the passion and resources of life science into proven, research-based anti-poverty and racial justice interventions and community-led organizations for almost a decade, and I’m thrilled to actively support their mission and leadership.”

—Dan Rosan, Chief Business and Financial Officer, Ascidian Therapeutics; Board of Advisors, Life Science Cares Boston

“Giving back to our local community is part of the small biotech DNA, and Life Science Cares has enabled dozens and dozens of small biotechs to make a major impact on our community.”

—Jeb Keiper, CEO, Nimbus Therapeutics; Board of Managers, Life Science Cares Boston

“There is no industry better suited to tackle an issue as long-standing and complex as poverty. I know my colleagues to be among the most committed, creative and collaborative out there, and I am excited to help build and strengthen the formidable LSC Network of Good.”

—TA Burrell, CFO, Beam Therapeutics; Board of Managers, Life Science Cares Boston

“Life Science Cares has an incredibly bold vision and mission to harness the good in our life sciences industry to end poverty and inequity in the communities where we grow and build our businesses.”

—John Maragnore, founding CEO and a Director of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; Board of Managers, Life Science Cares Boston

“As the beneficiary of mentorship and internship opportunities when I first came to this country, I believe that it is our responsibility to leverage the creativity and ingenuity of the life science community in NYC to reshape our industry to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. Educational opportunities have the power to change the trajectory of the lives of young people like it did for me. I am proud to join the Board of Advisors of Life Science Cares to help carry out the bold mission and important work of ending poverty and inequity.”

—Maria Luisa Pineda, CEO and Co-founder, Envisagenics; Board of Advisors, Life Science Cares New York

Join Our Network for Good

As summed up by Jeffrey Hessekiel, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Exelixis and Board Co-Chair of Life Science Cares Bay Area, “The business of life sciences is super challenging, demanding that life science professionals be smart, talented, and hard-working. In my experience, they are also kind, compassionate, and generous. Life Science Cares takes great advantage of those positive attributes, unlocking the potential for life science companies and people to be a powerful force for good in their communities. That’s why I jumped at the chance to help build a Life Science Cares affiliate in the Bay Area. 

“The societal problems we confront are immense, however, in the life science industry we’re used to tackling big problems. It is a privilege to work with the staff, corporate and individual supporters, and partners of Life Science Cares Bay Area to find new and innovative ways to deliver assistance to neighbors who need and deserve a helping hand.”

We look forward to welcoming you to our powerful network of life science companies working together to do so much good. Together, we can make a difference.

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