About Us
VICE PRESIDENT
Lilia Holt is the Interim President at the Rhode Island Life Science Hub. With more than a decade of experience in financial services, economic development, and program coordination, she previously served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Rhode Island Life Science Hub and Vice President of Business Development at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.
Since the launch of the RI Life Science Hub in June 2023, Lilia has played a central leadership role in strategically advancing and scaling Rhode Island’s life sciences ecosystem in alignment with statewide economic development priorities. She has built and strengthened strategic partnerships across government, academic institutions, healthcare systems, and industry to advance scientific translation, clinical collaboration, and business expansion. She was instrumental in the development of Ocean State Labs, the state’s first life science incubator, and has led business attraction efforts to bring new life science companies and high-quality jobs to Rhode Island, including the expansion of Organogenesis. Lilia continues to design and implement programs to catalyze company growth milestones and strengthen workforce development initiatives statewide.
Holt holds an MBA from Simmons University and a BA in Sociology and Psychology from Suffolk University. A native Rhode Islander, she is a graduate of Classical High School in Providence, Rhode Island.
SENIOR GRANT PROGRAM MANAGER
Hailey Bathurst is the Senior Grant Program Manager at the Rhode Island Life Science Hub. With experience in economic development, public-sector funding, and innovation ecosystems, she manages the Hub’s portfolio of grant programs designed to support the growth and commercialization of life science companies in Rhode Island.
Since joining the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, Hailey has led the design, implementation, and management of funding programs. She works closely with founders, research institutions, and industry partners to translate scientific innovation into economic opportunity while overseeing the full lifecycle of the Hub’s grant portfolio, including program design, award management, compliance, and impact reporting.
Prior to joining the Hub, Hailey worked in blue technology at SeaAhead, where she led federally funded programs and partnerships to advance ocean and climate technology innovation. Her work included launching and managing an accelerator program in coastal Mississippi, working with startups, government partners, and industry stakeholders to scale ocean technology ventures. Earlier in her career, she worked with Social Enterprise Greenhouse in Rhode Island and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia, where she developed entrepreneurship and economic development initiatives supporting local businesses and youth programs.
Hailey holds an M.A. in International Development and Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and an M.S. in Political Science and Law from Roger Williams University.
Mission
As the state's central coordinating organization for life sciences, RILSH is a gateway into Rhode Island's research institutions, health systems, and talent — bringing companies and partners together to advance medical and scientific breakthroughs.
Vision
Its vision is a Rhode Island recognized as a global life-science leader — a destination where companies from anywhere can build and grow, and where discovery becomes better health for people everywhere.
Leadership
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Bob Cormier is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub (RILSH). A veteran medical-device executive with more than 25 years of leadership across startups, mid-size companies, and a Fortune 500 enterprise, he has built his career bringing new technology to the bedside — and building the companies that get it there.
Most recently, Cormier was CEO of Sentec, a global respiratory and critical-care monitoring company that he grew into a mid-size enterprise and whose technology became widely adopted in NICUs around the world. He has been part of dozens of company acquisitions and integrations, licensing and distribution deals, and new product introductions, and he co-founded Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI), a digital health and AI startup. He has also held senior leadership roles at Covidien, Aspect Medical Systems, and Tyco Healthcare. Alongside his operating career, Cormier has worked on the investor side of the industry, including with family offices and private equity firms, giving him a dual perspective on both building life science companies and financing them.
A Rhode Islander for more than 30 years, Cormier holds a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island and a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law.
The Rhode Island Life Science Hub (RILSH) is a quasi-public state entity working to grow and serve Rhode Island's life-science community — investing in, coordinating, and connecting academia, industry, clinical care, and capital to translate innovation into economic growth and improved health.
Appointed leaders from Rhode Island's research universities, hospital systems, industry, and state government — governing the RI Life Science Hub and guiding its investments.
PRESIDENT, BEACON BANK - CHAIR
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF COMMERCE - VICE CHAIR (EX-OFFICIO)
CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, ALMONTE GROUP LLC - TREASURER
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, AMGEN RHODE ISLAND
DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF PROVIDENCE (EX-OFFICIO)
CO-PRESIDENT & CEO, PRO-CHANGE BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
PRESIDENT & CEO, BROWN UNIVERSITY HEALTH (EX-OFFICIO)
DEAN, WARREN ALPERT MEDICAL SCHOOL, BROWN UNIVERSITY (EX-OFFICIO
PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (EX-OFFICIO)
PROVOST, PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING, BROWN UNIVERSITY (EX-OFFICIO)
FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER, LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA (LIUNA)
VICE PRESIDENT, DEVICE AND TRANSLATIONAL ENGINEERING, VERTEX PHARMECEUTICALS
PRESIDENT & CEO, CARE NEW ENGLAND (EX-OFFICIO)- SECRETARY
PRESIDENT, RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE (EX-OFFICIO)
Our Board of Directors
Dr. Patrice Milos, Ph.D.
RI BIO