Catalyst Award Winners

2024 Catalyst Award Winners

Denise Bronner, Ph.D.

Founder and CEO

Empactful Ventures
Denise Bronner, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Empactful Ventures

Tyler Brown, Ph.D.

Founder, Chair and President

OUTbio San Diego
Tyler Brown, Ph.D. Founder, Chair and President OUTbio San Diego

Nick Goeden, Ph.D.

Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Capsida Biotherapeutics
Nick Goeden, Ph.D. Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Capsida Biotherapeutics

Michael Henderson, M.D.

CEO

Apogee Therapeutics
Michael Henderson, M.D. CEO Apogee Therapeutics

Sophia Lugo

CEO, Chairman and Co-founder

Radar Therapeutics
Sophia Lugo CEO, Chairman and Co-founder Radar Therapeutics

Ana Moreno, Ph.D.

Founder and CEO

Navega Therapeutics
Ana Moreno, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Navega Therapeutics

Nindhana Paranthaman, M.D.

Executive Medical Director of Clinical Development

Summit Therapeutics

Nindhana Paranthaman, M.D. Executive Medical Director of Clinical Development Summit Therapeutics

Kevin Parker, Ph.D.

CEO and Co-Founder

Cartography Biosciences

Kevin Parker, Ph.D. CEO and Co-Founder Cartography Biosciences

Hunter Reed

Vice President, Alexandria Venture Investments

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Hunter Reed Vice President, Alexandria Venture Investments Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

David Weinberg, Ph.D.

Co-Founder and CEO

ParcelBio
David Weinberg, Ph.D. Co-Founder and CEO ParcelBio

2023 Catalyst Award Winners

Andrés Bratt-Leal

Co-Founder and Sr. Vice President of Research and Development

Aspen Neuroscience
Andrés Bratt-Leal Co-Founder and Sr. Vice President of Research and Development Aspen Neuroscience

Carl Dambkowski, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Apogee Therapeutics, Inc.
Carl Dambkowski, MD Chief Medical Officer Apogee Therapeutics, Inc.

Paul Donohoue

Associate Director of Platform Discovery

Caribou Biosciences, Inc.
Paul Donohoue Associate Director of Platform Discovery Caribou Biosciences, Inc.

Ryan Kellogg, PhD

Co-founder and CEO

RTHM
Ryan Kellogg, PhD Co-founder and CEO RTHM

Pascal Krotee, PhD

Senior Associate

RiverVest Venture Partners
Pascal Krotee, PhD Senior Associate RiverVest Venture Partners

Swathi Kumar, Ph.D

Sr. Director, Human Identification and Forensics

QIAGEN
Swathi Kumar, Ph.D Sr. Director, Human Identification and Forensics QIAGEN

Maddison Masaeli, PhD

CEO and Co-Founder

Deepcell
Maddison Masaeli, PhD CEO and Co-Founder Deepcell

Joshua Pelz, PhD

CEO

LIMBER Prosthetics & Orthotics
Joshua Pelz, PhD CEO LIMBER Prosthetics & Orthotics

Raphael Townshend, PhD

Founder and CEO

Atomic AI
Raphael Townshend, PhD Founder and CEO Atomic AI

Courtney Young, PhD

Co-founder and CEO

MyoGene Bio
Courtney Young, PhD Co-founder and CEO MyoGene Bio

2022 Winners

Jun Axup, PhD

Director of Partnerships at E11 Bio
Jun Axup, PhD Director of Partnerships at E11 Bio

Monica Rivera Beam, PhD

Senior Vice President of Science & Technology at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Alexandria Venture Investments
Monica Rivera Beam, PhD Senior Vice President of Science & Technology at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Alexandria Venture Investments

Janice Chen, PhD

Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer of Mammoth Biosciences, Inc.
Janice Chen, PhD Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer of Mammoth Biosciences, Inc.

Elizabeth Redman Cleveland

Chief Strategist, Sustainable Growth – City of Berkeley
Elizabeth Redman Cleveland Chief Strategist, Sustainable Growth – City of Berkeley

Michael Farrington

Chief People and Culture Officer at NuVasive
Michael Farrington Chief People and Culture Officer at NuVasive

Peyton Greenside, PhD

Co-founder and CSO, BigHat Biosciences
Peyton Greenside, PhD Co-founder and CSO, BigHat Biosciences

Genevieve LeMarchal

Managing Partner at Suncoast Ventures and Head of Healthcare at Expert Dojo
Genevieve LeMarchal Managing Partner at Suncoast Ventures and Head of Healthcare at Expert Dojo

Devan Shah

Chief Executive Officer and Founder of RNAV8 Bio

Devan Shah Chief Executive Officer and Founder of RNAV8 Bio

Samir Siddhanti

Executive Director, Business Development at Neurocrine Biosciences
Samir Siddhanti Executive Director, Business Development at Neurocrine Biosciences

Hanadie Yousef, PhD

Chief executive officer and co-founder of Juvena Therapeutics, Inc.
Hanadie Yousef, PhD Chief executive officer and co-founder of Juvena Therapeutics, Inc.

2021 Winners

Elinne Becket, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences and Faculty Director of Innovation at California State University San Marcos
Elinne Becket, Ph.D. Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences and Faculty Director of Innovation at California State University San Marcos

Chris Bostick, Ph.D.

Partner
Chris Bostick, Ph.D. Partner OCV Partners

Joshua Britton, Ph.D.

CEO and Founder of Debut Biotechnology
Joshua Britton, Ph.D. CEO and Founder of Debut Biotechnology OCV Partners

Kathryne Cooper

Investment Advisor, The West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics
Kathryne Cooper Investment Advisor, The West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics OCV Partners

Fabian Gerlinghaus

Co-Founder & CEO of Cellares
Fabian Gerlinghaus Co-Founder & CEO of Cellares OCV Partners

JJ Kang, Ph.D.

CEO and Co-Founder of Appia Bio, Venture Partner at The Column Group
JJ Kang, Ph.D. CEO and Co-Founder of Appia Bio, Venture Partner at The Column Group OCV Partners

Hallie Kuhn, Ph.D.

Vice President – Science & Technology, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. / Alexandria Venture Investments
Hallie Kuhn, Ph.D. Vice President – Science & Technology, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. / Alexandria Venture Investments OCV Partners

Benjamin Oakes, Ph.D.

Co-founder, President, and CEO at Scribe Therapeutics
Benjamin Oakes, Ph.D. Co-founder, President, and CEO at Scribe Therapeutics OCV Partners

Joshua Yang

Co-founder and CEO, Glyphic Biotechnologies
Joshua Yang Co-founder and CEO, Glyphic Biotechnologies OCV Partners

Alice Zhang

CEO & Co-founder, Verge Genomics
Alice Zhang CEO & Co-founder, Verge Genomics OCV Partners

2020 Winners

Sarah Bhagat

Sarah Bhagat, Partner, Sofinnova Investments
Sarah Bhagat Sarah Bhagat, Partner, Sofinnova Investments

Racquel Bracken

Partner, Venrock
Racquel Bracken Partner, Venrock

Pedro Coelho

Co-founder & CEO, Provivi, Inc.
Pedro Coelho Co-founder & CEO, Provivi, Inc.

Jasson Crockett

Director of Community Business and Economic Innovation, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, City of Los Angeles
Jasson Crockett Director of Community Business and Economic Innovation, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, City of Los Angeles

Wei Gao

Assistant Professor of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
Wei Gao Assistant Professor of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology

Arthur Kuan

CEO, CG Oncology, Inc.
Arthur Kuan CEO, CG Oncology, Inc.

Trevor Martin, Ph.D.

Co-Founder & CEO

Mammoth Biosciences
Trevor Martin, Ph.D. Co-Founder & CEO Mammoth Biosciences

Inanc Ortac

Founder, CSO of DevaCell; Founder, CSO of Sarmal; and Founder, CEO, CSO of Innovasion Labs PINC
Inanc Ortac Founder, CSO of DevaCell; Founder, CSO of Sarmal; and Founder, CEO, CSO of Innovasion Labs PINC Mammoth Biosciences

Katie Planey

Co-founder and CTO, Mantra Bio
Katie Planey Co-founder and CTO, Mantra Bio Mammoth Biosciences

Cameron Turtle

Chief Business Officer, Eidos Therapeutics and SVP, Portfolio Management and Corporate Development, BridgeBio Pharma
Cameron Turtle Chief Business Officer, Eidos Therapeutics and SVP, Portfolio Management and Corporate Development, BridgeBio Pharma Mammoth Biosciences

2019 Winners – Bay Area

Adam Adler

Head of Laboratory Research Operations, GigaGen
Adam Adler Head of Laboratory Research Operations, GigaGen

Rachel Haurwitz, Ph.D.

Co-founder, President and CEO, Caribou Biosciences
Rachel Haurwitz, Ph.D. Co-founder, President and CEO, Caribou Biosciences

Anitha Jayaprakash, Ph.D.

Co-founder, Girihlet Inc.
Anitha Jayaprakash, Ph.D. Co-founder, Girihlet Inc.

Noga Leviner

Co-founder and CEO, PicnicHealth
Noga Leviner Co-founder and CEO, PicnicHealth

2019 Winners – Los Angeles

Matt Davidson Ph.D.

CEO and Co-founder, Azora Therapeutics and Founder, Verrica Pharmaceuticals
Matt Davidson Ph.D. CEO and Co-founder, Azora Therapeutics and Founder, Verrica Pharmaceuticals

Shannon Mumenthaler, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California Lab Director, Lawrence J. Ellison Institute of Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California
Shannon Mumenthaler, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California Lab Director, Lawrence J. Ellison Institute of Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California

Patrick Phelps

Sofie Biosciences (Sofie), Co-founder, President & CEO Director Momentum Biosciences, Board Member
Patrick Phelps Sofie Biosciences (Sofie), Co-founder, President & CEO Director Momentum Biosciences, Board Member

2019 Winners – San Diego

Ranjan (Ron) Batra, Ph.D.

Vice President of Research and Development, Locana, Inc.
Ranjan (Ron) Batra, Ph.D. Vice President of Research and Development, Locana, Inc.

David Chacko, M.D.

Chief Business Officer, Erasca
David Chacko, M.D. Chief Business Officer, Erasca

Sheng Xu, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Nanoengineering, UC San Diego
Sheng Xu, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Nanoengineering, UC San Diego

2018 Winners – Los Angeles

Carolina Amador

President, Biotech Connection Los Angeles (BCLA)
Carolina Amador President, Biotech Connection Los Angeles (BCLA)

Brian Benson

Director of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization, California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA
Brian Benson Director of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization, California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA

Long Cai, Ph.D.

Co-founder, Spatial Genomics; Research Professor, Caltech
Long Cai, Ph.D. Co-founder, Spatial Genomics; Research Professor, Caltech

Joseph Dunham, Ph.D.

Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, SeqOnce Biosciences Inc.
Joseph Dunham, Ph.D. Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, SeqOnce Biosciences Inc.

Stephen Fiacco, Ph.D.

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, EvoRx Technologies and Canvas Pharma
Stephen Fiacco, Ph.D. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, EvoRx Technologies and Canvas Pharma

Leo Petrossian, Ph.D., MBA

Head of Corporate Development, co-founder and CEO of Neural Analytics, Inc
Leo Petrossian, Ph.D., MBA Head of Corporate Development, co-founder and CEO of Neural Analytics, Inc

Ryan Witt

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Immix Biopharma, Inc.
Ryan Witt Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Immix Biopharma, Inc.

2018 Winners – San Diego

Stephanie Culler, Ph.D.

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Persephone Biome
Stephanie Culler, Ph.D. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Persephone Biome

Punit Dhillon

Co-founder and Director, OncoSec Medical Incorporated
Punit Dhillon Co-founder and Director, OncoSec Medical Incorporated

Valentino Gantz, Ph.D.

Co-founder and Director, Agragene Inc. and Synbal Inc.
Valentino Gantz, Ph.D. Co-founder and Director, Agragene Inc. and Synbal Inc.

Suman Kanuganti, MBA

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aira Tech
Suman Kanuganti, MBA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aira Tech

Tao Long, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Tao Long, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Jose Morachis, Ph.D.

President and co-founder, NanoCellect Biomedical, Inc.
Jose Morachis, Ph.D. President and co-founder, NanoCellect Biomedical, Inc.

Taylor Moyer

Chief Executive Officer, Managed Lab Services
Taylor Moyer Chief Executive Officer, Managed Lab Services

Chorom Pak, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Lynx Biosciences
Chorom Pak, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer, Lynx Biosciences

Drew Spaventa, MBA

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Singular Genomics
Drew Spaventa, MBA Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Singular Genomics

Arthur Suckow, Ph.D.

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, DTx Pharma
Arthur Suckow, Ph.D. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, DTx Pharma

2017 Winners – Los Angeles

Thomas Lipkin, Ph.D.

Head of New Ventures, University of California, Los Angeles Technology Development Group
Thomas Lipkin, Ph.D. Head of New Ventures, University of California, Los Angeles Technology Development Group

Yan Liu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California
Yan Liu, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California

Aydogan Ozcan, Ph.D.

Chancellor’s Professor at University of California, Los Angeles; Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Aydogan Ozcan, Ph.D. Chancellor’s Professor at University of California, Los Angeles; Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Tanya Petrossian, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, EndoCyclic Therapeutics; Principal, Building Blocks Advisory Group
Tanya Petrossian, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer, EndoCyclic Therapeutics; Principal, Building Blocks Advisory Group

Marie Rippen, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Lab Launch
Marie Rippen, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer, Lab Launch

2017 Winners – San Diego

Francie Barron, Ph.D.

Vice President of Biology and Regulatory Affairs, Nanomedical Diagnostics
Francie Barron, Ph.D. Vice President of Biology and Regulatory Affairs, Nanomedical Diagnostics

Karen Christman, Ph.D.

Professor of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego; Scientific Co-founder, Ventrix Inc.
Karen Christman, Ph.D. Professor of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego; Scientific Co-founder, Ventrix Inc.

Brendan Eckelman, Ph.D.

Co-founder, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Biotherapeutics, Inhibrx LP
Brendan Eckelman, Ph.D. Co-founder, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Biotherapeutics, Inhibrx LP

Dov Fox, J.D.

Professor of Law, University of San Diego School of Law
Dov Fox, J.D. Professor of Law, University of San Diego School of Law

Todd Harris, Ph.D.

Head of Corporate Development
Todd Harris, Ph.D. Head of Corporate Development

Zachary Hornby, M.S., MBA

CEO, President & Director

Boundless Bio
Zachary Hornby, M.S., MBA CEO, President & Director Boundless Bio

Patrick Mercier, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego
Patrick Mercier, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego Boundless Bio

David Nelles, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder, Locana Inc.
David Nelles, Ph.D. Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder, Locana Inc. Boundless Bio

Ryan Taft, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Scientific Research, Illumina Inc.
Ryan Taft, Ph.D. Senior Director, Scientific Research, Illumina Inc. Boundless Bio

Matt Tremblay, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Blackbird Laboratories
Matt Tremblay, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer Blackbird Laboratories

2016 Winners

Phil Baran, Ph.D.

Darlene Shirley Chemistry Chair & Professor
Phil Baran, Ph.D. Darlene Shirley Chemistry Chair & Professor

Martyn Gross

Founder and Vice President of Innovation
Martyn Gross Founder and Vice President of Innovation

Tony Grover

Global Director, Biomarkers and CDx at BD
Tony Grover Global Director, Biomarkers and CDx at BD

Susie Harborth

General Partner; Managing Director
Susie Harborth General Partner; Managing Director

Michael Heltzen

President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael Heltzen President and Chief Executive Officer

Rob Knight, Ph.D.

Faculty Director
Rob Knight, Ph.D. Faculty Director

Dena Marrinucci, Ph.D.

Vice President, Research
Dena Marrinucci, Ph.D. Vice President, Research

Mike Milligan

Principal, Life Science Department
Mike Milligan Principal, Life Science Department

Edward R. Truitt, III

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lubris BioPharma
Edward R. Truitt, III Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lubris BioPharma

Ashley Van Zeeland, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer, Human Longevity, Inc.
Ashley Van Zeeland, Ph.D. Chief Technology Officer, Human Longevity, Inc.

History

The Catalyst Awards were established by Biocom California in collaboration with the San Diego Venture Group in 2016. With the biotech and life science industries in California nearing 50 years, it became evident that new generations of leaders were emerging, shaping our world. Despite the presence of other top 10 lists or 40 under 40 awards in various formats, there was a notable absence of a free, competitive, peer-reviewed and industry-focused platform. A committee comprising life science executives, board members and previous winners from prominent life science organizations is tasked with selecting up to 10 winners annually. This rigorous process spans several months to ensure a thorough evaluation and recognition of outstanding contributions. Over several months, they carefully evaluate candidates to identify up to 10 winners who demonstrate exceptional leadership and innovation.