Hummingbird Foundation

Metabolic syndrome is a major societal challenge

We read almost daily in the newspapers that staf shortages in health care are increasing, while the substantial impact of an aging population still has to materialize. In the meantime the number of people with obesity and related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and kidney disease is rising sharply. We call this cluster of diseases 'metabolic syndrome'. People suffering from metabalic syndrome will increasingly strain the capacity of our health care system in the coming years, when that capacity is already insufficient. These are elements of a developing healthcare care crisis.

The only solution to this crisis is curing these diseases. And that can be done, with the new knowledge developed in recent years in area of tissue-, cell- and gene therapies. We call this regenerative medicine, which can be described as repairing and replacing organ damage. Regenerative medicine can safely be called a revolution. CURE at last!

For example, it may be possible in the future to implant or grow back insulin producing cells in our body to restore the function of the pancreas and cure diabetes type 1. Or we may be able to give failing kidneys a boost to restore their function.

Investing to Connect: early-stage impact fund

The Dutch based Hummingbird Foundation has a unique strategy to realize this ambition. First we are establishing a follow-up impact fund to finance path-breaking cures for patients. Second, we fight metabolic syndrome by global collaboration: the World Tech Summit and global RM manufacturing accelerator.