Whitehead Institute remembers Brit d’Arbeloff

The Whitehead Institute community is deeply saddened by the passing of Brit d’Arbeloff, Director Emerita of the Board and longtime friend and supporter of the Institute. Over many years, Brit championed Whitehead through incisive governance, visionary philanthropy, and steadfast advocacy for women’s health and women in science. A pioneer throughout her life, Brit was the first woman to earn a mechanical engineering degree at Stanford University and built an accomplished engineering career in spite of impediments placed in her way as a woman in the field at the time.

“Brit was a true inspiration. For her, nothing was unachievable,” Whitehead Institute Director Ruth Lehmann says. “She had high standards and a wicked sense of humor. Brit was a powerful supporter of Whitehead Institute and its scientists, and a deeply engaged, creative thinker who could talk to trainees for hours about their research.”

Many Whitehead researchers benefited from Brit’s support, but her crowning achievements here are the Sex Differences in Health and Disease Initiative and the Brit Jepson d’Arbeloff Center on Women's Health within it. Based in the laboratory of Whitehead Institute Member David Page, these programs seek to understand sex differences in health and disease at the molecular level.

Historically, women were often not included in medical research, despite having different disease risks, symptoms, and treatment responses than men. Brit understood that by studying women and men’s unique biology, Whitehead Institute researchers could discover the biological basis of sex differences and ultimately improve preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic care for everyone. 

Brit said of the Center on Women's Health: “I cannot make a more important investment in the health of my grandchildren and their children. And I have very concrete hopes: I want the Center to help ensure that biomedical research reflects and benefits all of humanity—women and men, young and old.”

David Page, who grew to know Brit well over years of working together, both on the Sex Differences Initiative and as institute director for part of her tenure on the board, says: “I have learned many things from Brit: To listen attentively. To take pride in your family. To laugh a lot. To value integrity and honesty. And to know your own priorities and passions and to spare no effort in supporting them generously. I am grateful to have known and learned from Brit for so many years. Brit will be greatly missed, and I am honored to carry on her mission through my research.”

Brit also supported Whitehead by funding the institute’s first child care benefits for employees. These benefits help working parents at Whitehead Institute balance family life with often demanding careers. Brit understood that supporting scientists as people, alongside funding research directly, accelerates scientific progress.

Brit became part of the Whitehead community as unofficial advisor to her husband, Alex d’Arbeloff, who joined and then became chair of the Whitehead Institute Board of Directors in 2004. After Alex’s death in 2008, Brit joined the board and carried on the family’s close relationship with Whitehead. She immersed herself in the institute’s mission and challenges, serving on multiple board committees and providing guidance that helped Whitehead maintain its scientific momentum and financial security through difficult periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Being in the room with Brit when complex problems needed rigorous, analytic, and creative thinking was inspiring. She was a natural leader who guided the board time and time again to wise policies and decisions over her many years of superb service to science,” former Board Chair Charles Ellis recalls.

Board Chair Sarah Williamson says: “When I joined the Whitehead Board, Brit welcomed me with her wit and deep understanding of the place and its science. Her leadership, both at Whitehead and more broadly in science, has inspired me and countless others. She will be greatly missed.” 

Brit’s legacy at Whitehead is profound. She helped shape the science, governance, and culture. She will be remembered warmly by generations of our community for her sharp intellect, bold spirit, generosity, and infectious laugh.

Memorial details are available here. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either The Brit Jepson d'Arbeloff Center on Women's Health at Whitehead Institute or to Rogerson Communities.

We offer Brit’s family and loved ones our deepest condolences.