ExCulture founder Aisling Foley receives Transatlantic Connections Award from Termeer Foundation
The Termeer Foundation has named Aisling Foley, Co-Founder and CEO of ExCulture and winner of the Venture Challenge Spring 2023, as one of the recipients of the 2025 Transatlantic Connections Award. She is joined by Ana Moreno, CEO of Navega Therapeutics, as this year’s honorees—two life science entrepreneurs leading bold biomedical innovation with global impact.
The award recognizes biotech founders in the Netherlands and the United States who are advancing patient-focused therapies while building strong ties between the two ecosystems. Recipients also become part of the Termeer Fellows program, gaining access to mentorship, peer networks, and resources to support their continued growth.
“We are delighted to recognize these two remarkable innovators,” said Catharine Smith, Executive Director of the Termeer Foundation. “These trailblazing CEOs were chosen because of their deep commitment to improving health and healthcare for patients and the world.”
At ExCulture, Foley and her team are pioneering an animal-free fermentation platform for producing complex biopharmaceuticals. Their first proof-of-concept is a sustainable alternative to heparin, a widely used blood thinner currently derived from pigs.
“Heparin is the most used blood thinner in the world, required by 1 out of 3 hospitalized patients, yet we are still depending on a high-risk supply chain for its production – porcine intestines,” said Foley. “This dependence has led to contamination crises and global shortages in the past. Our goal at ExCulture is to create a safer, more reliable alternative through a future-proof production process.”
Ana Moreno and her team at Navega Therapeutics are developing epigenetic gene therapies that regulate gene expression by targeting the epigenome, rather than the genome itself. Their first candidate targets chronic pain, aiming to deliver long-lasting, non-addictive relief.
“Receiving the Transatlantic Connections Award from the Termeer Foundation is a tremendous honor and validation for our vision at Navega Therapeutics,” said Moreno. “Pain remains one of the most pressing unmet medical needs globally, and with our novel epigenetic approach, we are aiming to deliver the next generation of pain therapeutics without the risks associated with opioids.”
The Transatlantic Connections Award was established in 2021 with support from Health~Holland and builds on a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. The goal: to strengthen transatlantic collaboration in life sciences and accelerate the development of impactful therapies.
The Termeer Foundation supports an ever-expanding network of healthcare innovators and provides mentorship, leadership development, and strategic connections to help bring breakthrough solutions to patients.
Source: The Termeer Foundation
