Tech Collective announces R.I. Bioscience Award winners

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

PROVIDENCE - Tech Collective, Rhode Island’s bioscience and IT industry association, has announced the six winners of its inaugural Rhode Island Bioscience Awards.

“The first of its kind in Rhode Island, the industry-specific Rhode Island Bioscience Awards are designed to honor individuals working within the state’s bioscience sectors, including medical device, research and development, pharmaceuticals, laboratories, production, design and related areas,” said the Tech Collective release announcing the winners.

The awards ceremony, which will honor the six “bioscience champions” in the areas of research, quality and education, will take place on the evening of Thursday, May 2, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.

The winners are (in alphabetical order):

• Edward Bozzi, associate clinical professor and coordinator of the bio-manufacturing program at the University of Rhode Island

• Leslie Cousens, scientific director of protein therapeutics at EpiVax Inc.

• Dr. Anne S. De Groot, director of the Institute for Immunology and Informatics (iCubed) at the University of Rhode Island

• Andrew P. Mallon, CEO and director of research at Calista Therapeutics Inc.

• Denice Spero, co-director of iCubed at the University of Rhode Island

• Michelle Wu, director of quality services for Ximedica

“We are so proud to introduce the Rhode Island Bioscience Awards and its inaugural award honorees!” Kathie Shields, executive director for Tech Collective, said in prepared remarks. “As the bioscience industry has grown here in Rhode Island, so has the need to recognize not only the influence that the industry has on innovation and economic growth in our state, but also to recognize the individuals who so diligently and passionately make that happen on a daily basis.”

Nominations and applications for this year’s awards were accepted through Feb. 1. A judging committee of industry and business representatives selected the winners. The judging panel included: John Cronin, chief operating officer of Global Transformation Strategies and board member of SBANE; Stephen Evangelista, CEO for the New England region of the Arthritis Foundation; George Goodno, director of state policy communications at the Biotechnology Industry Organization; and Sharon Lee, director of multiple pathways at the R.I. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The May 2 awards celebration will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Rhodes on the Pawtucket. Science Comedian Brian Malow is slated to open the ceremony, which will continue with dinner, remarks on the state’s bioscience industry, recognition of the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence and recognition for the winners of the inaugural bioscience awards.