Industry Innovators
BIO is proud to recognize industry leaders within the biotechnology industry. Below are winners of our most significant awards.
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Henri A. Termeer Biotechnology Visionary Award
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Biotechnology Heritage Award
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G. Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotech & Agriculture
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Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotech & Agriculture
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“It’s okay to fail. It’s our responsibility to do what seems impossible if we can make a difference to patients.”
The Henri A. Termeer Award Honors extraordinary individuals who reflect Mr. Termeer’s contributions and indelible legacy. The award is focused on recent innovative accomplishments with a transformative impact (or what is expected to make such an impact) on the patient community. Henri Termeer was a pioneer and visionary for biotechnology. His lifelong commitment to the industry and patients contributed not only to his lasting success, but his respect as a leader, entrepreneur, innovator, mentor and businessman.
Dr. Kakkis is currently Chief Executive Officer, President and Founder of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical where he leads a team developing and commercializing multiple rare and ultra-rare disease treatments.
Sue Desmond-Hellmann is a physician, scientist and philanthropist, who has devoted her career to improving the human condition. As a pioneer in healthcare for more than 30 years, she’s driven major developments toward the eradication of disease, poverty and inequity.
The Biotechnology Heritage Award honors extraordinary individuals whose work in biotechnology, whether it be through discovery, innovation, commercialization, or public understanding, is helping to heal, fuel, and feed the world. This award is presented in conjunction with the Science History Institute each year at the BIO International Convention.
Bancel has served as Moderna’s chief executive officer since October 2011 and as a member of Moderna’s board of directors since March 2011.
Maraganore served as the founding CEO and a director of Alnylam from 2002 to 2021, where he built and led the company from early platform research on RNA interference through global approval and commercialization of the first four RNAi therapeutic medicines.
The Biotechnology Heritage Award was presented to Ivor Royston, president and CEO of Viracta Therapeutics, Inc., during the BIO International Convention, held June 13–16, 2022, in San Diego.
A visionary who was considered a giant in the biotech industry, the EVOLUTION Life Science Partners founder and chairman played a key role in shaping the $500 billion pharmaceutical industry as an innovator of biotech investment.
This award was created to recognize significant contributions by individuals in the field of industrial biotechnology and its application in biological engineering, environmental science, biorefining, and biobased products. This award is sponsored by the Iowa Biotechnology Association and is presented each year at the BIO World Congress on Agriculture Technology & Industrial Biotechnology.
Dr. Harris has worked to reduce the time it takes to produce animal vaccines. His discoveries have shaped the way we raise livestock, combat animal disease threats, and protect the nation’s food supply.
Dr. Robert Kennedy work provides growers with novel technologies that overcome resistance issues while being safe for the environment and workers.
Pramod developed Praj’s Bio-Mobility™ platform, which produces renewable liquid and gas biofuels for land, sea, and air transportation, and Bio-Prism™, a portfolio of technologies to produce renewable chemicals and materials from biomass, including bioplastics.
Tom Vilsack
Former Iowa governor and secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is the recipient of the 2019 George Washington Carver Award.
Each year this award is given to an outstanding woman in the industrial biotechnology sector who has made significant contributions to the advancement of the biobased economy and biotech innovation. Award sponsored by the Rosalind Franklin Society and is presented each year at the BIO World Congress on Agriculture Technology & Industrial Biotechnology.
Dr. Pam Marrone is the co-founder and executive chair of Invasive Species Corp, in addition to three other biotech companies – Entotech, AgraQuest, and Marrone Bio Innovations.
Under Dr. Tsong’s leadership, Amyris has developed a biotech-based fermentation technology to efficiently convert feedstocks into products and ingredients from vitamin E and squalene to flavors and fragrances.
Emily is the co-founder of San Francisco-based Twist Bioscience, which manufactures DNA and DNA-based products to improve human health and sustainability.
Reshma Shetty
Reshma Shetty is the co-founder of Gingko Bioworks—a Boston-based biotech company focused on building tools that make it possible to access the power of biology.
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