BioUtah, the trade association serving Utah's life sciences industry, has announced the recipients of its 2024 Life Sciences Awards, which honor leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who have made substantial contributions to the state's life sciences sector. The awards will be presented during the 2024 Mayer Brown Utah Life Sciences Summit on November 14 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center Hotel. Kelvyn Cullimore, president and CEO of BioUtah, stated that each individual and company receiving an award has made exceptional contributions to the industry, bringing life-changing medical technologies to patients across the globe. Dr. Myles Greenberg, CEO of Alucent Biomedical and chair of the BioUtah Board of Directors, emphasized the awards' reflection of Utah's dynamic leadership and culture of healthcare innovation.
The 2024 Life Sciences Awards recipients showcase a diverse range of accomplishments within the industry. Dr. Wm. Dean Wallace, CEO of Liger Medical, is being recognized for his contributions as a physician, innovator, and entrepreneur, with a career spanning multiple successful medical device companies and over 20 medical patents, particularly in advancing women's health technologies. Brad Brown, founder and co-chairman of ATL Technology, is being honored for his outstanding leadership in expanding the company's global manufacturing footprint, having grown the company to serve nine of the top 10 medical device companies worldwide with facilities across multiple continents.
Jay Muse, president and CEO of Piper Access, is receiving an award for his innovative work in catheter technologies, including inventions like a novel Intraosseous access device and the Stiletto Extended Dwell Catheter that have made significant impacts in improving patient care and clinician safety. Blackrock Neurotech is being recognized for its groundbreaking work in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, with implantable neurotechnologies aimed at helping millions of individuals with paralysis and other neurological disorders regain functions such as walking, talking, hearing, seeing, and feeling. The company's Utah Array has been at the forefront of BCI research and application since 2004.
Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner of Talent Ready Utah (TRU) at the Utah System of Higher Education, is being honored for his contributions to workforce development in the life sciences industry, with efforts resulting in significant funding allocations for higher education programs aimed at training the life sciences workforce and supporting industry internships and returnships. The announcement of these awards underscores the vibrant and innovative nature of Utah's life sciences industry, highlighting the state's position as a hub for healthcare innovation and technological advancement by recognizing excellence in areas such as medical device manufacturing, neurotechnology, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.
The presentation of these awards at the Utah Life Sciences Summit will not only celebrate individual and company achievements but also serve to inspire future innovation and collaboration within the industry. As the life sciences sector continues to grow and evolve, recognizing such contributions becomes increasingly important in fostering an environment of continued progress and excellence. For those interested in learning more about the award winners and attending the summit, information is available at utahlifesciencessummit.com. The event promises to be a significant gathering for Utah's life sciences community, offering opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and celebrating the industry's achievements.
