Life Sciences South Florida has selected the recipients of the first Lifees awards, honoring professionals and organizations that are leading the charge in developing industries related to life sciences in South Florida.
“The Lifees are our way of honoring those companies that are helping to transform South Florida into a life sciences epicenter,” said Saif Ishoof, vice president of the FIU Office of Engagement. “The work they do is essential for the development of our community and for the success of our students.”
Awardees will be honored at a luncheon at noon on Monday, April 18 in the Palm Ballroom at the Miami Beach Convention Center during this year’s eMerge Americas.
The 2016 Lifees award winners are:
- TissueTech, a leader in regenerative amniotic tissue-based products.
- ImmunoSite Technologies, a leading global provider of contract for research and development services.
- Max Planck Florida Institute, a nonprofit research organization that is part of the world-renowned Max Planck Society, Germany’s most successful research organization, with over 80 institutes worldwide.
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, research center dedicated to conducting basic research to advance the understanding of human disease and the improvement of human health.
- Miami MedTech, the first comprehensive medical technology incubator in South Florida, which is being honored as the “Startupbootcamp New Innovator in Life Science.”
The keynote speaker for the for the luncheon will be Daniel Cane, CEO and co-founder of Modernizing Medicine. Since founding the company in 2010, Cane has led his team to raise over $85 million in funding and to employ approximately 500 employees. In 2015, he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year and the 2015 Technology Entrepreneur of the Year by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, as well as honored by Florida Governor Rick Scott with the Business Ambassador Award. The Sun Sentinel recognized him with the Excalibur Award for Palm Beach Small Business Leader of the Year for 2013 and he was named a Palm Beach County Ultimate CEO by South Florida Business Journal.
Life Sciences South Florida, whose members include leaders of the top educational, economic development and research institutions in the region, seeks to establish an industry cluster in South Florida focused on life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and information technology. Launched in 2010, LSSF is overseen by FIU’s Office of Engagement. LSSF created the awards with Startupbootcamp, TopLineMD, FIU’s Office of Research and Economic Developmentand Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
The awards luncheon also will feature a panel with innovative women in STEM which will be moderated by Ishoof.
Panelists include: Jocelyn Cortez-Young, founder and CEO of Minerva Capital Group; Ranu Jung, interim dean of FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing; Dr. Geeta Nayyar, chief healthcare & innovation officer for Femwell Group Health; Ava Parker, president, Palm Beach State College; and Kimarie Stratos, senior vice president and general counsel, Memorial Healthcare.
For tickets please email Alexina Alonso at aealonso@FIU.edu.
