Life Science Cares (LSC) Boston and Xilio Therapeutics have been named honorees of the Boston Business Journal’s 2025 Community Collaborators Awards, recognizing their long-standing and impactful partnership focused on reducing poverty and advancing equity across the Greater Boston area.
The Community Collaborator accolade recognizes Massachusetts-based companies and nonprofits that have formed innovative partnerships guided by mission alignment, sustained impact, and inclusive community-oriented practices.
The partnership between LSC Boston, a nonprofit that works with life sciences companies and executives to support anti-poverty nonprofits, and Xilio Therapeutics, a Waltham-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on defeating cancer, exemplifies the power of industry collaboration to drive social change. Aligned by missions to improve the human condition and the communities in which we live and work, both organizations have worked closely since 2020 to support critical needs including health equity, STEM education, and economic opportunity.
“Our partnership with Xilio represents what’s possible when life science companies commit to deep, meaningful community engagement,” said Rosie Cunningham, executive director of LSC Boston. “Xilio has been a standout partner since our founding in 2016, consistently showing up across all our impact areas. From creating career pathways into the life sciences, to rolling up their sleeves alongside our nonprofit partners, they show what it means to truly invest in combating poverty in the communities where we live and work.”
Through LSC’s Project Onramp, Xilio provides internships to students who are Pell Grant recipients, helping to build a more inclusive future life sciences workforce. Xilio employees also volunteer with LSC Boston’s 42 nonprofit partners through hands-on engagement. Additionally, Xilio contributed a one-time financial donation to LSC Boston from the net proceeds of its IPO in 2021—marking the first time a biotech company donated in this way—highlighting the depth of Xilio’s partnership.
Xilio President and CEO Dr. René Russo has served on LSC’s Board of Managers since its founding in 2016, exemplifying the company’s deep-rooted commitment to the organization’s mission. Additional Xilio executives serve on LSC’s Board of Advisors, donating their time to provide leadership, organizational, and other support.
“Our work with LSC Boston reflects Xilio’s belief in the power of the collective impact of the Boston life sciences industry to create meaningful, lasting change,” said Dr. Russo. “By supporting the organizations tackling poverty head-on, we’re helping to build healthier communities while strengthening employee engagement and company culture.”
The recognition from the Boston Business Journal affirms the impact of this multifaceted partnership, which serves as a powerful example of how life sciences companies can extend their impact beyond scientific innovation to build stronger, healthier communities.