30 Greater Philadelphian’s Making Impact in the Life Sciences: Meet Your 2024 BioBuzz Awards Finalists

November 18, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the finalists for our 2024 BioBuzz Awards for Greater Philadelphia. Celebrating the people, programs, and organizations who go above and beyond to support the success of our communities, the industry, and the patients that ultimately benefit, six categories are recognized annually. Vote now to help us pick the winners. >

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As the year nears its end, November offers a chance to step back and reflect, both individually and as a community. It’s a time to celebrate our accomplishments, recognize the challenges we’ve navigated, and learn from the experiences that have shaped us.

At the same time, it’s a moment to express gratitude for the people, programs, and organizations who have spearheaded impact. In this spirit of reflection, we’re proud to announce the finalists for the 2024 BioBuzz Awards, honoring those who have made an exceptional impact in the life sciences this year.

Our 2nd Awards for Greater Philadelphia, and our 5th for the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia), these awards celebrate the people, programs, and organizations who go above and beyond to support the success of our communities, the industry, and the patients that ultimately benefit. 

Six categories are recognized annually. An open community nomination period, followed by a 4-week voting period precedes our Annual Awards Celebration event which brings together award recipients, presenters, and attendees from the region and beyond thanks to our incredible sponsors US Pharmacopeia (USP), Avantor, MilliporeSigma, Blackbird Labs, Integral Molecular, and Life Science Wealth.

Per usual, there was no shortage of deserving nominations for 2024. We received a tremendous number of nominations from you, our dearest readers and community, representing a diverse pool of people, programs, and organizations from across the industry.

From an unwavering commitment to excellence to groundbreaking innovations, the five finalists in each of our six categories were selected based on the number of nominations received and their points of impact. We are thrilled to share and showcase their stories more indepth in the coming weeks as you vote to help us select the winners. 

You can vote once per day between now and 11:59 p.m. EST Friday, December 13, 2024. Winners will be selected on the total number of votes and announced late January 2025. 

Without further adieu, our 2024 BioBuzz Award finalists.

The Life Science Cares Leader of the Year Award

Named in honor of Life Science Cares Philadelphia, who, with their incredible leadership, helped us launch our inaugural Awards Celebration as part of their Impact Reception last year, our annual Leader of the Year Award recognizes a regional biohealth leader who exemplifies an unwavering devotion to excellence. This servant leader carries a legacy and lives each day with a passionate pursuit of excellence and innovation in their own work to make a difference in the lives of others.

The finalists for our 2024 Life Science Cares Leader of the Year Award are (in alphabetical order):

• Amanda Banks, MD, Former CEO, Co-Founder Blackfynn
• Joan Lau, Co-founder & Partner, Militia Hill Ventures, Co-founder & CEO, Spirovant Sciences, Inc., and Member Board of Trustees, Brandywine Realty Trust
• John Swartley, Chief Innovation Officer, University of Pennsylvania
• Martin Lehr, CEO & Director, Context Therapeutics
• Nicholas Siciliano, Chief Executive Officer, viTToria Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Community Builder of the Year Award

This award honors a thoughtful community builder that fosters intentional collaborations and meaningful contributions of their time, energy, and expertise to support the biohealth ecosystems in Greater Philadelphia. This individual or organization has gone above and beyond their responsibilities to make an impact on the ecosystem. This person or organization is a servant leader who sees beyond their job description or the balance sheet and strives to create a rising tide for all across so that we can collectively make a greater impact on public health and patients around the world.

The finalists for our 2024 Community Builder of the Year Award in Greater Philadelphia are (in alphabetical order):

• BioStrategy Partners
• Jennifer Gilburg, Deputy Secretary of Technology and Entrepreneurship, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
• Karina Sotnik, Founder/CEO, WorldUpstart
• Louis Kassa, CEO of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC)
• The PROPEL Tech Hub, led by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Workforce Champion of the Year Award

This award recognizes a person, program, or organization that has made a measurable contribution to enhancing the biotech workforce within Greater Philadelphia. Talent is the single most important, and limiting, variable to the success of a company and of a regional economy. 

These finalists are recognized for their outstanding contributions and innovative approaches to attracting, training, and/or growing the biotech workforce.

The finalists for our 2024 BioBuzz Workforce Champion of the Year Award in Greater Philadelphia are (in alphabetical order):

• Eric Hacherl, PhD, Co-lead Viral Vector Program, NIIMBL, Principal, Persephoni BioPartners, Founder and CEO, SMART Bio Works
• Keystone LifeSci Collaborative
• Margaret Bryans, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Education and Training, Montgomery County Community College
• Nafees Innovations
• Dr. William Wunner, Wistar professor emeritus – The Wistar Institute Workforce Development & Training

Startup of the Year Award

Our Startup of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievements and innovations within the field of life sciences, honoring startups that have demonstrated exceptional contributions to advancing healthcare, biotechnology, and related industries. 

Recipients of this award are celebrated for their groundbreaking research, technological advancements, and overall impact on improving the quality of human life through cutting-edge solutions in life sciences. The award serves as a testament to the dedication and excellence of startups shaping the future of healthcare and biomedicine and who have pursued their mission with dedication and perseverance to build momentum toward commercialization.

The finalists for our 2024 Startup of the Year Award in Greater Philadelphia are (in alphabetical order):

• GEMMABio (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Latus Bio (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Radiant Biotherapeutics (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Tolerance Bio (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Uniquity Bio (Malvern, PA) Website | LinkedIn

Breakthrough Life Science Company of the Year Award

This award recognizes a company who has pursued their mission with dedication and perseverance and built momentum towards commercialization with a substantial breakthrough this past year. Finalists were selected on their achievement of important milestones such as advancing to a clinical-stage company, achieving successful pivotal trials, or getting FDA approval for the commercialization of their technology to bring it to the patients who need it. 

The finalists for our 2024 Breakthrough Life Science Company of the Year Award in Greater Philadelphia are (in alphabetical order):

• Adaptimmune (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Annovis Bio (Malvern, PA)
• Every Cure (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Imvax (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Iovance Biotherapeutics (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn 

Employer of the Year Award

This award honors the life science employers who are the foundation of a vibrant biotech cluster. Being a great employer is about building an exceptional workforce, developing an employee-centric culture that keeps employees engaged and empowers them to be ambassadors for your company, and fostering a more inclusive and resilient workforce. It’s also about the ability to attract top talent and achieve your needed growth without compromising these elements. Nominees should reflect these essential elements and have a talent brand.

The finalists for our 2024 Employer of the Year Award in Greater Philadelphia are (in alphabetical order):

• Abzena (Bristol, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• bioMérieux (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• GSK (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Rockland Immunochemicals (Limerick, PA) Website | LinkedIn
• Wuxi Advanced Therapies (Philadelphia, PA) Website | LinkedIn

We can’t wait to celebrate those in the region making an impact, growing the ecosystem, and bringing life-changing products to patients in need this spring. Stay tuned for more on our Annual Awards Celebration and don’t forget to cast your vote daily between now and 11:59 p.m. EST Friday, December 13, 2024.