Conny Helder has been appointed chairman of the board of FAST, the centre of expertise that – commissioned and funded by the Ministries of Health, Welfare and Sport and Economic Affairs – is committed to promoting future-oriented, sustainable and affordable medical therapy development. She succeeds Huib Pols, who filled the role with great commitment since March 2021. Her appointment, with the agreement of both ministries, heralds a new phase for FAST, simultaneously strengthening its collaboration with TNO.

About Conny Helder
Conny Helder brings broad administrative experience in the healthcare sector. In the fourth Rutte government (2022-2024), she was minister of long-term care and sport, and minister of health, welfare and sport. Previously, she held various management positions in the hospital sector and was director of organisations in primary care and elderly care. Among others, as chairman of the board at tanteLouise, where she was known for her commitment to renewal and innovation. She is currently, among other things, chair of the Supervisory Board of RegMed XB and a member of the Steering Committee Advisory Board of Oncode Accelerator.

Strengthened collaboration with TNO
With the arrival of Conny Helder, FAST is simultaneously entering a new phase: a more intensive collaboration with TNO. Whereas FAST previously operated from ZonMw, from 2025 the substantive and operational collaboration with TNO will be strengthened, thus focusing even more on innovation. This step offers new opportunities to combine knowledge, infrastructure and networks for the development of innovative therapies that are both impactful and affordable, such as radiopharmaceuticals.

Conny Helder emphasises the importance of this development: “With TNO’s technological and innovation strength, we can work even better with the field on ambitious projects. This cooperation offers opportunities to really let innovation and affordability go hand in hand. The task of FAST – commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Economic Affairs – remains leading in this: as an independent expertise centre with a coordinating and connecting role in the field – in collaboration with public and private parties – to support innovators and stimulate solutions that contribute to faster and more sustainable access to new therapies for patients.”

“TNO and FAST share the same ambitions, for example, when it comes to accelerating drug development. With our innovation strength, solid knowledge position and intensive cooperation with companies, governments and civil society organisations, we can apply innovations faster, scale them up and thus increase their impact,” says Marjoleine van der Zwan, Managing Director Health & Work at TNO.

Future-oriented and connecting
FAST works through hubs such as InFECT-NL and RARE-NL and in close cooperation with patient organisations, companies, knowledge institutes and healthcare providers. With its connecting role and integrated approach – from development to application – FAST contributes to a strong innovation climate for advanced medicine research. In doing so, it supports an ecosystem in which the Netherlands is an attractive location for research and development, with positive consequences for patients and society.

The board of FAST, further consisting of Annemiek van Rensen, Paul Korte and Paul Smits, as well as the executive FAST office, looks forward with confidence to the collaboration with Conny Helder and TNO, and to the next phase in the further development of FAST as an independent, connecting centre of expertise for innovative therapy development in the Netherlands.