2023 Award Winners and Finalists
Life Sciences PA is thrilled to announce the Pennsylvania life science community leaders receiving this year’s Annual Awards. These individuals and companies have made significant contributions to the industry during the past year and have dedicated their careers to achieving better outcomes for patients.
Federal Official of the Year Award
The Federal Official of the Year Award recognizes a federal official from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in Washington, DC on behalf of the life sciences industry.
Janet Woodcock, M.D.
Dr. Janet Woodcock currently serves as Principal Deputy Commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration, a role she assumed February 17, 2022. Dr. Woodcock is a Pennsylvania native who is very familiar with the innovation ecosystem in the Commonwealth. As a senior leader at the FDA, Dr. Woodcock has a unique understanding of the time and resource-intensive process of bringing new medicines and technologies to market. In fact, the FDA and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in particular, oversaw the approval of 37 novel molecular entities and new therapeutic biological products. During her time at the Center, Dr. Woodcock has initiated and led many new initiatives to modernize their review processes and standards, while maintaining the agency’s gold standard for drug approval and safety. She also spearheaded CDER efforts on patient-focused drug development. Dr. Woodcock has long been a leader in ensuring safe and effective review of new medicines, and as a native Pennsylvanian has an appreciation for the research and development community that calls the Commonwealth home.
State Official of the Year Award
The State Officials of the Year Award recognizes an official from Pennsylvania state government who has distinguished himself or herself as a leader who supports the life sciences community.
Rep. Matt Bradford
Since being sworn-in to office in 2008, Representative Matt Bradford has been engaged with and supportive of Pennsylvania’s life sciences ecosystem. As a representative of central Montgomery County, Representative Bradford has a strong understanding of the research and development community in the Commonwealth – especially those organizations located throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. After serving on the Appropriations Committee for eight years, Representative Bradford was elected by his colleagues as Democratic chair of the powerful committee in 2018. In that role the Representative has been supportive of expanding the Research and Development tax credit, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and other incentives critical to the life sciences community. Suffice it to say, Representative Bradford has been a long-standing champion in ensuring the state government continues to incentivize research and development for human health.
Emerging Company of the Year Award
The Emerging Company of the Year Award recognizes a company or organization that has experienced significant growth and/or achievement in 2022, while contributing positively to its community and the overall life sciences business climate of the Commonwealth.
Finalists:
Deal of the Year Award
The Deal of the Year Award recognizes an organization or organizations which have promoted the growth of Pennsylvania’s life sciences industry by way of a substantial deal or strategic partnership in 2022.
Finalists:
Castle Creek BioSciences stock financing of $112.8 million
The Center for Breakthrough Medicines $350 million investment from SK Inc.
Venatorx Pharmaceuticals $318 million contract with BARDA under project Bioshield
Scientific Achievement Award
The Scientific Achievement Award recognizes a scientist in the Pennsylvania life sciences community who has demonstrated outstanding achievement by advancing scientific knowledge, innovation, and/or patient care in their lifetime.
Gerald J. Gleich, M.D.
Dr. Gerald J. Gleich has dedicated more than 5 decades to eosinophil research, building a growing body of scientific understanding of the role they play in driving inflammatory disease. Dr. Gleich’s work has not only led to the identification of new disorders, but also has been pivotal in the development of a number of therapeutic agents to treat an array of eosinophil driven conditions. Dr. Gleich developed the technology currently being advanced by NexEos, a Philadelphia company co-founded by Dr. Gleich to better identify eosinophil driven inflammation.
Patient Impact Award
The Patient Impact Award recognizes a medicine, therapy, device, or organization that has made a significant contribution to the quality of healthcare or length of life of patients in 2022.
Immunocore developed Kimmtrak, the first bispecific T cell receptor to receive regulatory approval to treat a solid tumor and the only approved therapy for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma.
Infrascan received FDA clearance of the first hand-held diagnostic device for traumatic brain hemorrhage in children.
Neuronetics developed NeuroStar Advanced Therapy, an FDA-cleared, non-drug, non-invasive treatment to treat people suffering from major depressive disorder, anxious depression, and as an adjunct treatment for OCD to improve quality of life.
President’s Service Award
The President’s Service Award recognizes an individual in Life Sciences PA’s membership who has made a significant contribution to the organization through volunteering time, leadership, and energy to help advance the Association’s mission.
Barb Carlin
As a member of our Board of Directors, Barb Carlin took our mission of facilitating strategic connections to heart and to a higher level, consistently connecting the organization with investors for our member companies as well as potential new members. Barb also took a leadership role in our events, chairing the Conference Leadership Circle of Life Sciences Future – BioPharm, whose success is due in large part to her guidance. Barb also moderates the Art of Fundraising, a quarterly series that gives actionable advice to start-up companies on investing and fundraising and serves as a moderator for the member-drive Pharma in Transition Group.
John Nash MedTech Leadership Award
The John Nash MedTech Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding leader in the Pennsylvania med tech community who best exemplifies the spirit of innovation in Pennsylvania.
Liam Kelly
Liam Kelly, Chairman, President, and CEO of Teleflex has more than twenty years of experience in senior leadership roles in the medical device sector. Liam has been involved in many start-ups over his career, driving a number of acquisitions and integrations, as well as the inception of HillRom’s Ireland and Australia branches. In his previous roles at Teleflex, he has been responsible for cross-business investments and collaboration in marketing and R&D, where he was responsible for about $1.9 billion in revenue. Since 2020, he has served on the board of Enovis, a company that provides orthopedic and fabrication technology products and services to customers around the world, as a member of their governance committee.
Frank Baldino CEO of the Year Award
The Frank Baldino CEO of the Year Award recognizes a CEO who has demonstrated visionary leadership and active participation to advance the industry in 2022.
Scott Braunstein
Scott Braunstein of Marinus Pharma has overseen the approval and early commercial launch of Ztalmy, the first and only seizure medicine specifically for people with CDKL5 deficiency disorder aged 2 years and older. November also saw Marinus sign a collaboration agreement with Tenacia Biotechnology valued at $266 million. Scott currently serves on the board of Directors for Coastal Volunteers in Medicine, where he drove a fundraising campaign to expand its current medical facility and patient services. He also serves on the Life Science Cares Board of Advisors and does philanthropic work through Cornell’s Alumni Association, establishing an experiential learning fund that supplies upward of $25,000 in annual funding for students.
Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Leadership Award
The Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding leader in the life sciences community who best exemplifies the spirit of innovation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Paul Perreault
Paul Perreault was appointed CEO and Managing Director of CSL in 2013, and since then has overseen the organization grow into the world’s third largest biotechnology company with over 30,000 employees. Through the P.A.L.S plasma donation program, Paul and CSL encourage donors to connect with patients, who regularly visit CSL Plasma centers. Paul has been named one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO and Humanitarian of the Year by the Hemophilia Association of New Jersey. While Paul is stepping down from his role at CSL in 2023, his leadership in the life sciences community will be felt for years to come.
Thank you to our award sponsors
