Dr. Heleen Wortelboer studied biology at the Free University of Amsterdam and finished her PhD and postdoctoral research in Toxicology within UTOX, a collaboration of the University of Utrecht, TNO and RIVM. From 1992 – 1999, she interrupted her scientific career and worked as yacht skipper finishing this period with a three year sailing trip across the oceans with her family. Since 2000 she works as Senior Scientist at TNO implementing new methods for pharmaceutical, food and chemical industry. She focuses on translating research and applying systems biology knowledge to health and society using a modelling approach. Currently, the aim of her research is to study health(care) from a systems view of life using complexity science to improve awareness of critical transitions in especially lifestyle related diseases for an optimal grip on health.