Behind the Scenes: A Conversation with Julie Teer, CEO of Countdown
COUNTDOWN INSIDERS6 min read
Countdown’s new CEO, Julie Teer, sat down with our VP of Marketing, Stephanie Ballien, to talk about what brought her here, what she’s building, and what she wants every Insider to feel a year from now.
Stephanie: Let’s start at the beginning. What drew you to mitochondrial science, and to Countdown specifically?
Julie: What drew me was the opportunity to help advance science with relevance across so many areas of human health. Countdown’s vision brings that into focus: accelerate mitochondrial science and medicine, and bring cellular energy to the center of human health. The chance to help build an organization around that mission, connect people across disciplines, and mobilize meaningful investment is deeply compelling to me.
Health is also profoundly personal. My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at 49 after her mammogram was misread, and she died at 56. My father was a decorated Vietnam veteran who struggled with PTSD, and he died at 49 from cancer and congestive heart failure. I have now outlived my father. Those experiences shape the urgency I bring to this work and my belief that families deserve better answers.
Stephanie: Your career has taken you through politics, national nonprofits, and healthcare, with leadership roles at Susan G. Komen, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Wellstar. How did that path lead you here?
Julie: Throughout that work, I’ve brought people together around ambitious goals and helped secure the resources to achieve them. Those experiences taught me how to build relationships, lead teams, and translate a mission into a strategy people can invest in. They also taught me the responsibility that comes with philanthropy. People are trusting you with their resources and their hopes. At Countdown, I bring that responsibility to building an organization, really a movement, capable of delivering lasting impact.
CEO Julie Teer; Founder & President Mitzi Solomon; VP of Marketing Stephanie Ballien at the July 2026 Afternoon of Energy event in the Hamptons.
Stephanie: What do you believe Countdown can become under your leadership?
Julie: A driving force in advancing mitochondrial science and bringing its discoveries into people’s lives. We can connect expertise across research silos, fund promising work, and build partnerships that help discoveries move toward practical applications. My role is to build the organization that can deliver on that ambition, with strong scientific leadership, disciplined investment, and clear accountability. I want Countdown to earn people’s confidence through the quality of the work we support and the progress we help make possible.
“Countdown will become a driving force in advancing mitochondrial science and bringing its discoveries into people’s lives.”
Stephanie: What excites you most about this moment?
Julie: Countdown has accomplished so much in a short time, and we’re entering a stage where we can build on that foundation with greater capacity and reach. We have research underway, committed scientific leadership, and a growing community that understands why this matters.
We’re also expanding how people participate. Our brand partnership program, 1% for Mitochondria, and Countdown Insiders give companies and individuals meaningful ways to support research, learn, and stay involved. That creates an opportunity to make mitochondrial health part of a much broader conversation while building sustained support for the science.
Stephanie: Let’s talk science. What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about cellular energy since joining?
Julie: How much it connects across the body. We often talk about health in separate categories, but the brain, heart, muscles, and immune system all depend on cellular energy. That makes the connections across research especially compelling. A finding in one area can inform questions in another. It’s a powerful reason to bring scientists across disciplines into conversation and support work that helps us understand those connections.
Mitzi Solomon and Julie Teer with Barry J. Byrne, MD, PhD; Madhurima Saha, PhD at the University of Florida. These investigators are one of the 2024 Countdown grant recipients for gene therapy research in MEPAN syndrome, Barth syndrome, and Friedreich’s ataxia.
Stephanie: Which piece of research Countdown is funding are you most excited about?
Julie: The ovarian aging research is especially compelling to me. Women deserve a deeper understanding of how their bodies change over time, and Countdown is supporting research into the role mitochondria play in ovarian aging. I’m excited by the opportunity to help advance that understanding in an area that deserves greater attention and investment. It reflects our commitment to asking important scientific questions with the potential to inform women’s health.
“Women deserve a deeper understanding of how their bodies change over time, and Countdown is supporting research into the role mitochondria play in ovarian aging.”
Stephanie: What’s one thing you wish everyone understood about mitochondria?
Julie: Mitochondria matter to everyone. They help produce the energy our cells need, and they also play essential roles in metabolism, cellular signaling, and how cells respond to stress. This science reaches far beyond rare mitochondrial disease. It is foundational to understanding how our bodies function, which is why we want more people to understand it and more investment directed toward advancing it.
Stephanie: Has your own health routine changed since you joined Countdown?
Julie: I’m paying closer attention to how my daily habits support my health over time. Learning about mitochondrial science has given me a deeper appreciation for sleep, movement, nutrition, and recovery, and for why consistency matters. It has also made me more thoughtful about the information I take in. I want to understand the evidence behind a health claim and ask better questions. That is something I hope we help our community do as well.
Stephanie: And what’s the one thing you never compromise on when it comes to your health?
Julie: Being an advocate for myself. My mother’s experience left a lasting impression on me. I believe in asking questions, following up, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right.
Having outlived my father, I’m very aware that my health deserves my attention now. I want to be present for the people I love and able to fully participate in my life. I also start every day with some form of movement, whether it’s a solidcore class or a 5K run. Exercise gives me clarity, and it is also one of the most powerful ways we can support mitochondrial health. Exercise stimulates processes such as mitophagy, our cells’ natural way of clearing damaged mitochondria and helping maintain a healthier, more resilient mitochondrial network.
The other way I take care of my health is by leading with joy. Spending time with the people I love, laughing with family and friends, and making space for the moments that fill me up are essential to how I live. I’ve learned that health is not only about caring for our bodies. It’s also about surrounding ourselves with people and experiences that give us energy, connection, and joy.
“I’ve learned that health is not only about caring for our bodies. It’s also about surrounding ourselves with people and experiences that give us energy, connection, and joy.”
Stephanie: Last question. A year from now, what do you hope Insiders feel that they don’t feel today?
Julie: I hope they feel more connected to the research and more confident in their understanding of mitochondrial health. Through research updates, expert conversations, and accessible education, I want them to understand what we’re funding, why it matters, and what their support is helping accomplish. Most of all, I hope they feel a sense of ownership in Countdown’s progress. I want them to be able to say, “I helped make that possible,” and feel excited about what we can accomplish together next.
