Our Retrospective on 2018

Social Genomic mission is to help 400M+ Rare Disease patients to find their cure faster! By creating a world with universal access to lifesaving knowledge for every person on earth. 2018 has been the year that Social Genomics has grown into an ambitious Next-Generation Biotech Startup (one of the few with a single female founder!!).

The year 2018 has been an extraordinary journey! I started the year with a goal to bring the technical innovation behind Social Genomics to the next phase, gain the thrust and credibility from global leaders and identify our unique entry in the market. Using the wisdom and network created in 2016 and 2017 to accelerate the global mission! Looking back, I'm super excited and proud about how the community has grown to 804 registered supporters, the established knowledge partnerships with among others the Erasmus MC and the contracts signed to setup our first Real-World use case.

Summary of achieved Milestones

This year Social Genomics has grown into an internationally recognised high potential next-generation biotech startup to empower +400M rare disease patients and their families to find their cure faster! Through offering rare disease patients, relatives, friends, medical specialists, academics, hospitals, life science researchers access to a highly secure and intelligent medical network.

We launched this global solution, so that if your child or someone else you know, will be diagnosed with a rare disease, you are empowered to connect with lifesaving information on a global scale! Because maybe at the other side of the country, or the other side of the world, there will be people walking around with the key to save the life of your child! By building a smart medical network we aim to make the search journey easier and faster.

Building a global community of 'Life savers'

Currently we have build a community with 804 registered users at our platform! We have setup a test panel with > 8 dedicated patients searching for a cure, people who watched the journey from their loved one and families who have lost their child from one of those terrible scary diseases, like rare Metabolic Diseases, rare heart diseases, Usher syndrome, Rare Cancers etc...

Acknowledgements & Awards

As female(!) founder of Social Genomics I feel extremely honoured to be asked to present my mission at 4 TEDx stages within 6 months time!! An achievement, that considering the honour is like a dream for many!!! I still cannot believe this... For me speaking on stage is a great manner to reach out to a bigger audience and inspire them join & to take action! 

I first provided a speech at TEDxINSEAD, I then became finalist at TEDxAmsterdamWoman Startup Award 2018, I provided another speech at TEDxAmsterdamED and then I became selected again by TEDxAmsterdam Award 2018 ! 

The alderman, Richard de Mos, of Den Hague has appointed me as Dutch One Young World Ambassador fighting for #SDG4(improving health for all) and I have been appointed to take part of the Global Community of the World Economic Forum.

Together with Boyan Slat, from the Ocean Cleanup I have been selected among the top 3 most successful Young Dutch Innovators by BID and TOPVROUWEN has featured me as the youngest and most disruptive ‘TOP’ women in history.

Social Genomics has gained international exposure

I've travelled around the world to present the mission of Social Genomics in Switzerland (lecturer at Basel University Hospital), France, Finland, Belgium and Saudi Arabia. I presented Social genomics at the world's biggest social impact conference Change Now Summit (Paris) and gained extensive TV exposure (VPRO Tegenlicht), YouTube video’s totalling 8700 hits, LinkedIn massages are reaching up to 35.406 hits (per post).

This year I have established an extensive network of trusted and dedicated advisors in genomics, technology, AI, healthcare, regulation and pharmaceutics and industry (of which I'm so grateful for your support!). These incredible smart and dedicated people mean the world to me! 

2018 has been incredible educational as well. I learned a lot about starting my own business, and have further improved my personal leadership skills. It's the start of a beautiful journey!! And I hope to celebrate many memorable moments with you in the future.

IMPACT, IMPACT, IMPACT

The Human Genome Foundation (ANBI) is supporting the mission of Social Genomics by raising funding to launch research projects. After a long journey fundraising for this mission it seems that we can finally start our first use case in 2019. I am extremely exciting about this!

Apart from developing Social Genomics' innovative technology, last 2 months I have initiated 2 sparkling new initiatives that will be launched in 2019! I can't disclose it yet but for those watching my linkedIn account it's something with a BOOK and TV-show about my work at Social Genomics to accelerate the global mission!

Be Bold, Move Fast and Focus on Your Impact - My Mantra

For me everything I do is based on IMPACT. My purpose is what drives me every day. Every step forward means that we are one step forward making a huge difference in the lives of millions of families in need. As a biomedical scientist I have witnessed that millions of people are dying because of lack of access to lifesaving information. And that we are wasting opportunities to speed up drug discovery. With all the knowledge and next-generation technology in the world, this is something we cannot accept anymore. So let's realise the impossible! Let's show the world that we can create a better world. Let's use all our fresh energy in 2019 to invent the future that we wish. My personal commitment is to empower +400M rare disease patients to find a cure and exponentially accelerate drug discovery!!

This year I launched my 5-year MOONSHOT plan to achieve this mission. On my journey, I'm grateful for all the amazing people who believe in me and I hope many other inspiring people and parties will join me on this purpose driven journey too. From whole my heart, I am grateful for their support and want to thank them and let them know how special they are for me. Supporting me and Social Genomics means that you are committed to create long-lasting impact for humanity together. If you want to share your thoughts, don't hesitate to reach out. Contact me for any questions, inquiries, wishes or prospective collaborations. It's a mission for the WORLD and YOU can help and be part of this extraordinary MOONSHOT too.

Yours humbly, 

Susanne

What others say about the mission

“Giving hope to people” “Susanne Baars, a woman on a mission. Using her expertise knowledge about genetics to contribute to a more sustainable and fair world with less disease suffering. I admire her drive, perseverance and courage.” 

- Prof. dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, former President of the Netherlands

“A Dream come true.” â€œIf this was available 5 years ago, my mother may still be alive.” - Lina, a daughter

“Identification of specific genomic mutations is often the essentialfirst step on the path to therapy development” 

- Prof. Dr. Niels Geijsen, Professor Hubrecht Institute

Watch my TEDxINSEAD speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFv1svnd4wo

Read TOPVROUWEN interview: https://www.topvrouwen.nl/nieuws/‘onacceptabel-dat-mensen-sterven-omdat-kennis-niet-toegankelijk-’