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BioBuzz recognizes six categories annually: BioHealth Leader of the Year, Community Builder of the Year, Workforce Champion of the Year, Startup of the Year, Breakthrough Life Science Company of the Year, and Employer of the Year. Meet the people, programs, and organizations who made noteworthy impact regionally in the life sciences in 2024.

BALTIMORE, Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- announced the finalists for their 2024 BioBuzz Awards, presented by , , , , , and .

Now in its for the BioHealth Capital Region (spanning Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia) and its for Greater Philadelphia, BioBuzz's Awards honor the outstanding people, programs, and organizations in the life sciences who go above and beyond to support the success of the community, the industry, and the patients that ultimately benefit.

"Since its inception BioBuzz has been committed to building a stronger, more connected life sciences community," said , CEO, BioBuzz Networks. "Our BioBuzz Awards are a reflection of that commitment. In recognizing those who are creating meaningful impact, we're not just celebrating their successes, we're inspiring the next generation of innovators and changemakers."

Six categories are recognized annually. An open community nomination period, followed by a 4-week community voting period precedes a celebration of the winners which will have both digital and physical elements this year within each market.

"Innovation flourishes in community which is why we're thrilled to support BioBuzz's community-driven Awards," said Courtney Warren, Account Manager, Pharma I Biotech I Industrial, VWR, part of Avantor. "For the life sciences, community is more than a support system—it's the engine driving discovery. When people come together, combining their perspectives, knowledge, and skills, they create something bigger than themselves, sparking new ways to solve complex challenges. In our industry, this interconnectedness strengthens the ecosystem, breaking down silos and encouraging collaboration across disciplines, regions, and companies. Community ensures that we're constantly learning, evolving, and pushing forward as a unified force, transforming what's possible for science and humanity."

Individuals wishing to vote can access the ballot and are encouraged to vote once per day, every day through 11:59 p.m. EST Friday, December 13, 2024. Winners will be announced in late January 2025.

The finalists are:

BioHealth Leader of the Year Award

This award recognizes a regional biohealth leader who lives each day with a passionate pursuit of excellence and innovation in their own work to make a difference in the lives of others.

In the BioHealth Capital Region this award is named in honor of the John Holaday, Ph.D., who was "a business man with the heart of a philanthropist; an activist; a man of deep passion and compassion; a scientist; a US Army Captain; a university professor; an entrepreneur; a founder and CEO of three public companies; a holder of over 80 patents; an acclaimed author of more than 230 articles and five books; a father; a husband; and a tireless champion of the underdog."

In Greater Philadelphia this award is named in honor of for their impactful work with life science leaders and partners to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in Philadelphia.

The finalists for BioBuzz's 2024 BioHealth Leader of the Year Award are (in alphabetical order):

BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia)

• , Johns Hopkins University
• , CEO, Member Board of Directors, Member Board of Directors, , Director,
• , Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
• , President and CEO,
• , Chairman, CEO,

Greater Philadelphia

• Former CEO, Co-Founder Blackfynn
• , Co-founder & Partner, , Co-founder & CEO, , and Member Board of Trustees,
• Chief Innovation Officer,
• CEO & Director,
• , Chief Executive Officer,

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, creating a rising tide that makes a greater collective impact on public health and patients around the world.

The finalists for BioBuzz's 2024 Community Builder of the Year Award are (in alphabetical order):

BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia)

• , Vice President - Entrepreneurship,
• , Principal, and President of the
• , Co-Founder, Executive Director,
• , Associate Director - Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices,
• , Chief & Director, Cellular Therapy Program, Associate Professor, Children's National and Director of CHARM (Capital Heath and Mid-Atlantic Regenerative Medicine)

Greater Philadelphia

• , Deputy Secretary of Technology and Entrepreneurship,
• , Founder/CEO,
• , CEO of the , , and the
• , led by the

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

The finalists for BioBuzz's 2024 Workforce Champion of the Year Award are (in alphabetical order):

BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia)

• and
• , Adjunct Faculty Instructor, , and Laboratory Operations Support Manager,

Greater Philadelphia

• Co-lead Viral Vector Program, , Principal, Founder and CEO,
• , Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Education and Training,
• Dr. William Wunner, Wistar professor emeritus -

Startup of the Year Award

This 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 BioBuzz's 2024 Startup of the Year Award are (in alphabetical order):

BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia)

• AgroSpheres (Charlottesville, VA) |
• AlgotmetRx (Washington, DC) |
• Clasp Therapeutics (Rockville, MD) |
• IntegerBio (Gaitherburg, MD) |
• Springbok Analytics (Charlottesville, VA) |

Greater Philadelphia

• GEMMABio (Philadelphia, PA) |
• Latus Bio (Philadelphia, PA) |
• Radiant Biotherapeutics (Philadelphia, PA) |
• Tolerance Bio (Philadelphia, PA) |
• Unquity Bio (Malvern, PA) |

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 BioBuzz's 2024 Breakthrough Life Science Company of the Year Award are (in alphabetical order):

BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia)

• CoapTech (Baltimore, MD) |
• Gain Therapeutics (Bethesda, MD) |
• Longeviti Neuro Solutions (Baltimore, MD) |
• Sonavex (Baltimore, MD) |
• Theradaptive, Inc. (Frederick, MD) |

Greater Philadelphia

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

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 BioBuzz's 2024 Employer of the Year Award are (in alphabetical order):

BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia)

• AstraZeneca (Gaithersburg, MD) |
• Becton Dickson (BD) (Hunt Valley, MD) |
• Civica (Petersburg, VA) |
• Precision for Medicine (Bethesda, MD) |
• US Pharmacopeia (USP) (Rockville, MD) |

Greater Philadelphia

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

For more information about the finalists, voting, and the BioBuzz Awards Celebration, visit .

ABOUT BIOBUZZ
Since 2009, BioBuzz has been tirelessly committed to building community and fostering a stronger, more diverse life science workforce through storytelling, community building, and hiring solutions. What started as a networking event to support laid-off life science workers has evolved based on the industry's needs and today stands as a leading source for community and hiring within three of the leading biotech hubs. Visit to learn more.

Media Contact

Cat Thoreson, BioBuzz Networks, 410-570-0988, [email protected],

SOURCE BioBuzz Networks