Hi ,

I’m thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023 SynBioBeta Global Synthetic Biology Awards, selected by the community in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the field of synthetic biology. Below are this year's honorees: 

SynBioBeta Lifetime Achievement Award - Craig Venter, JCVI

Foundational Principles for Innovation  

• This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of synthetic biology, advancing the science and technology of creating new biological systems and products. This year, the award is being presented to Craig Venter, a pioneering scientist, and entrepreneur who has played a central role in shaping the field of synthetic biology. Perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work in genomics and sequencing of the human genome, Craig Venter has also made significant contributions to the development of synthetic biology, developing techniques to create new organisms and biological products. Venter is also a successful entrepreneur and has founded several companies focused on using synthetic biology and is an active advocate for science and education, promoting scientific literacy and encouraging young people to pursue careers in science and engineering.

SynBioBeta Pioneer Award - Martine Rothblatt, United Therapeutics Corp

Revolutionizing the Industry   

• This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of synthetic biology, particularly in the areas of innovation and commercialization. This year, the award is being presented to Martine Rothblatt for her outstanding achievements and leadership in developing and bringing to market advanced biotechnologies. Under her leadership, United Therapeutics has become a trailblazer in regenerative medicine, developing innovative therapies for various diseases and cutting-edge technology for xenotransplantation. We recognize Martine Rothblatt's groundbreaking work, which not only advances the field of synthetic biology but has also brought hope and improved the lives of countless patients worldwide.

SynBioBeta Impact Award - Geoffrey Otim, SynBio Africa

Innovation in Solving Global Challenges

• This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of synthetic biology and have demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing the application of this technology for solving real-world problems. This year, the award is being presented to Geoffrey Otim for his groundbreaking work in leveraging synthetic biology to address critical health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Through his innovative research and development efforts, he has pioneered the development of novel synthetic biology-based tools for detecting and treating infectious diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis—and serves as a model for how synthetic biology can be leveraged to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges such as climate change, biosecurity, and agriculture innovation.

SynBioBeta Industry Leader Award - Jennifer Holmgren, Lanzatech

Moving the Bioeconomy Forward

• This award recognizes an individual or collaboration that has made the most significant impact in advancing synthetic biology as an industry with material, economic, and societal implications. This year, the award is being presented to Jennifer Holmgren. Under her leadership as CEO of Lanzatech, the company has developed a unique process for converting waste gases into valuable products such as fuels and chemicals. Her pioneering work has helped address the pressing global challenge of reducing carbon emissions and opened up new possibilities for sustainable manufacturing and resource management. In addition, she has been immensely successful at scaling manufacturing operations through strategic partnerships with companies like Unilever, Bridgestone, Zara, and H&M. 

SynBioBeta Rising Star Award - Paul Kohlhaas, Molecule

Future of Synthetic Biology

• This award recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact early in their career, helping to revolutionize and advance synthetic biology as an industry. This year, the award is being presented to Paul Kohlhaas for his groundbreaking work in synthetic biology and his leadership in the biotech industry. He has been a critical figure in the Decentralized Science (DeSci) movement. With the co-founding of Molecule, Kohlhaas has created a decentralized biotech protocol that democratizes biopharma research and development that connects academics and biotech companies with quick and easy funding. Molecule is also responsible for setting up bio.xyz, a BioDAO accelerator that provides infrastructure, funding, and advice for people wanting to fund specific subfields of life sciences, such as synthetic biology and ValleyDAO. This award is a testament to his vision, dedication, and innovative spirit.

This year, we will give out the awards at SynBioBeta 2023: The Global Synthetic Biology Conference.  Congratulations to all the winners on this well-deserved recognition for their exceptional work and dedication to advancing the field of synthetic biology.

Kind regards, 

John

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John Cumbers

Founder & CEO, SynBioBeta