DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Colorado BioScience Association celebrated the companies and organizations driving new health innovations to save and change lives around the world during its Annual Awards Celebration. The seventeenth annual event, held virtually on December 9, brought together life sciences leaders and innovators working through the pandemic on breakthrough technologies, products, solutions, and services.
Jennifer Jones Paton, CBSA President and CEO, says:
“The pandemic is ushering in new approaches to every aspect of health innovation. The more than 720 health innovators in our community embrace change to catalyze discoveries and fuel growth. Congratulations to our honorees, finalists, and award winners. They inspire us with their passion and dedication to driving innovation forward.”
Company of the Year: Inscripta
Based in Boulder, Inscripta is developing the world’s first benchtop platform for scalable digital genome engineering. The company’s advanced CRISPR-based platform, consisting of an instrument, consumables, software, and assays, offers a fully automated workflow that enables massively parallel, trackable editing of single cells at unprecedented scale. Inscripta’s goal is to empower scientists whose gene editing research is stifled by current technical and licensing limitations. Finalists for the award were: STAQ Pharma and LightDeck Diagnostics.
Rising Star of the Year: Edgewise Therapeutics
Boulder’s Edgewise Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing orally bioavailable, small molecule therapies for musculoskeletal diseases. The company focuses on new therapies for the treatment of patients with debilitating musculoskeletal disease using uncompromising standards of scientific rigor, personal integrity, and a deep respect for those whose lives they touch. Finalists for the award were: Artisan Bio and Sana Health.
CBSA Board Chair Bob Reddy joined Jones Paton to highlight the celebration’s theme, Innovation Forward. Innovation Forward recognizes the ecosystem’s commitment to the critical work of health innovation. The evening honored leaders working on new approaches to save and change lives around the world, including:
Educator of the Year: Amanda Fitzgerald
Counselor Amanda Fitzgerald of Frederick High School works closely with students enrolled in the Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools, or P-TECH. Students in the program, many who are first-generation college students, graduate in 4-6 years with both a high school diploma and associate’s degree, ready to enter the life sciences workforce.
Institute Leadership Award: Amgen Foundation LabXchange
The Amgen Foundation supports the Institute's LabXchange Teaching Training Program, providing an important resource for science teachers to better utilize the free Harvard-created LabXchange online learning platform in their remote, hybrid, or in-person classrooms.
Volunteer of the Year: Michael Mestek, Director of Market Development at Medtronic
Mestek is a champion for life sciences workforce development with the Colorado Bioscience Institute. He is a pioneer mentor, participating since the program’s inception. In addition to mentoring more than 50 students, he continually recruits and engages Medtronic colleagues to participate at the Annual Industry Showcase.
Legislators of the Year: State Senator Dominick Moreno (D), District 21, and State Senator Bob Rankin (R), District 8
CBSA works to build a pro-innovation environment for life-saving breakthroughs. Colorado's more than 720 life sciences organizations create more than 32,000 high-paying jobs and make more than $3 billion in economic impact. CBSA appreciates the support of Colorado's General Assembly and recognized Sens. Moreno and Rankin for their leadership on policy issues that support the health and growth of life sciences in Colorado.
Deal of the Year: ArcherDX and Invitae
From the inception of ArcherDX, the mission has been to create a world in which genetic information is used to practice precision oncology. The combined company will bring germline and somatic testing, liquid biopsy, and tissue genomic profiling onto a single platform to transform cancer care and bring genetic information to mainstream medicine.
Impact Award: Medtronic
For nearly three decades, Medtronic employees in Colorado have been an important part of Medtronic’s global mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for millions of people around the world. CBSA recognizes Medtronic’s impact on Colorado’s economy and applauds the company for its investment in a new Medtronic Colorado campus.
Business Partner of the Year: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
OEDIT works to ensure Colorado competes on a national and international scale. It’s a powerhouse support system that runs many critical programs for life sciences and other advanced industries. One of these programs is the Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant program, a series of five advanced industry grants, designed to promote growth and sustainability in industries including life sciences. CBSA and OEDIT worked closely to preserve funding for this critical program during the 2020 legislative session.
CBSA extends a special thank you to our event sponsors: Amgen, BIO, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Fisher Scientific, GRAIL, Sheridan Ross, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, Cooley, Securisyn Medical, and Nikon.
About Colorado BioScience Association
Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) creates co-opportunity for the Colorado life sciences community. CBSA champions a collaborative life sciences ecosystem and advocates for a supportive business climate. From concept to commercialization, member companies and organizations drive global health innovations, products, and services that improve and save lives. The association leads Capital and Growth, Education and Networking, Policy and Advocacy, and Workforce Cultivation to make its members stronger, together. Learn more: cobioscience.com
