Industry Innovators
BIO is proud to recognize industry leaders within the biotechnology industry. Below are winners of our most significant awards.
Henri A. Termeer Biotechnology Visionary Award
“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.
Mr. Termeer’s contributions to the biotechnology industry were powerful and extensive, from the creation of Genzyme to his leadership in the orphan rare disease community. His impact originates from more than his business strategy; it was born of his perseverance, generosity, intellect and deep commitment to heal the world.
To memorialize his contributions, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) dedicated an annual award in Mr. Termeer’s name with the first award given at the 2018 BIO International Convention in Boston, MA. BIO recognizes one individual annually who reflects 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. A nominee for the annual Henri Termeer Award should exemplify one or more of the following characteristics:
- Innovative contributions to the field of biotechnology and/or pharmaceuticals. Accomplishments related to the patient community are emphasized.
- Leadership that inspires other life science leaders to serve the patient community.
- Dedication and commitment to service and leadership for the patient community through the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
- The highest qualities of education and mentoring in academia or in industry for the life sciences. This includes community involvement, educational accomplishments, and/or philanthropy.
- Fostering diversity and inclusion among employees, customers and patients.
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.
Biotechnology Heritage Award
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.
Janet Woodcock, the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration, received the 2019 Biotechnology Heritage Award.
Bill serves as an Advisor to Illumina Ventures. Bill focuses on making and growing investments in biotechnology. He served on the board of Illumina for 17 years including 10 years as chairman. Bill led the “merger of equals” that formed Biogen Idec in 2003, and was a co-inventor of Rituxan® that became the first monoclonal antibody approved by the U.S. FDA.
Discover more about John Martin's contribution to the biotechnology industry in this video.
By inventing recombinant-DNA technology Boyer and Cohen jump-started the biotechnology industry, including Genentech, which creates important applications for a wide range of medical uses.
George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology & Agriculture
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.
Former Iowa governor and secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is the recipient of the 2019 George Washington Carver Award.
Dr. Sang Yup Lee is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Jeff Broin led the growth of POET from a small 1-million-gallon facility 30 years ago to the current POET network of 28 biorefineries in 7 states with 1,800 team members.
Dr. Venter’s contributions to the sequencing of Haemophilous influenzae in 1995 and of the human genome in 2000 stand as two major milestones of biology’s new era and illustrate how he transformed the biological sciences from a concept-driven scientific pursuit into a tool-driven scientific revolution.
Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology & Agriculture
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.
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.
Krysta Harden is Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Corteva Agriscience™. Prior to joining Corteva, Krysta served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, Krysta founded USDA’s Women in Agriculture Mentoring Network.
Vonnie Estes is the Vice President of Technology at the Produce Marketing Association. In 2017, when Vonnie received the Rosalind Franklin Award, she was an independent business consultant, leading client strategies to commercialize and realize value from new technologies and innovations.
Anna Rath currently serves as the President and CEO of the Vestaron Corporation, a leader in the development and marketing of safe and effective biological insecticides/miticides derived from naturally occurring peptides.
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