The Arizona BioIndustry Association (AZBio) has released the names of the finalists for its 2008 annual awards. Among the finalists for the Award for Research Excellence is Biodesign Institute researcher Stuart Lindsay. The winners will be named during the AZBio Annual Dinner, held in partnership with Arizona CURE, on Thursday, September 18, at The Buttes, a Marriott Resort, in Tempe.
The award recognizes the life science researcher in Arizona who has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge and the understanding of biological processes, as measured by publications and/or professional acknowledgement of their work in either an academic or commercial setting. The other finalists are Laurence Hurley, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, and Rod Wing, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Lindsay, who was also recently selected with ASU’s highest honor as Regents’ Professor, leads the Center for Single Molecule Biophysics at the Biodesign Institute. Specializing in nanotechnology, biophysics at the molecular level and scanning probe microscopy, he is an international leader in the area of experimental physics and chemistry.
Lindsay holds 29 patents and is a technology advisor for the Atomic Force Microscope Division of Agilent Technologies. He has also constructed specialized scanning probe microscopes in collaboration with Molecular Imaging Corporation, which was founded in 1993 by Lindsay and his collaborator Tianwei Jing and acquired by Agilent Technologies in 2005.
His body of published work comprises over 170 articles in peer-reviewed journals and many book chapters and refereed conference papers. Dr. Lindsay sits on the editorial boards of Biophysical Journal and AIP Press International Series in Basic and Applied Biological Physics. He also holds the position of Associate Editor for Probe Microscopy at Ultramicroscopy, and Associate Editor for the Americas at Nanobiology. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society.
Lindsay’s lab conducts innovative research in biological physics, molecular electronics, solar energy and condensed matter physics. Lindsay leads a team who are interested in how genes work, and studies the way in which proteins change DNA structure to switch genes on and off. They are also interested in the chemistry and physics of the liquid-solid interface, and are trying to understand electrochemical and charge transfer processes at the single-molecule level.
Lindsay’s team is pursuing a new method of DNA sequencing to allow much faster and cheaper sequencing of individual human genomes ($1000 genome goal) and help usher in the era of personalized medicine. His radical approach, called “sequencing by recognition,” involves using nanostructures to read the electrical current through DNA bases, thereby identifying the sequence.
The theme of the September 18 dinner is "Bioscience in Arizona: Doing Our Part to Transform the World," and the criteria for the awards reflect this perspective. In his keynote address, James C. Greenwood, President & CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization in Washington, DC, will also address the potential of biotechnology, providing his thoughts on "The Biotech Vision: Healing, Fueling and Feeding the World."
This year, AZBio will present six awards - four to individuals and two to bioscience companies in Arizona. "We were excited to receive a record number of nominations in the six award categories," said Bob Eaton, President & CEO of AZBio. "The review committee had a difficult job selecting the finalists from a large number of very deserving nominees."
At the dinner, AZBio will also recognize those bioscience companies that have had a presence in Arizona for more than 10 and 20 years. More information about the event can be found at www.azbio.org.
The finalists for the 2008 AZBio Annual Awards are as follows:
Bioscience Educator of the Year (sponsored by Hub International)
The educator who, as a member of the faculty or administration of an educational institution, demonstrated the greatest leadership, creativity and/or actions to inspire students and encourage them in the biosciences. (Cited contributions may extend over several years.) Teresa Clark, Hamilton High School, Chandler Andrew Lettes, Pueblo High School, Tucson Margaret Wilch, Tucson High Magnet School, Tucson
Public Service Award (sponsored by DPR Construction)
The person in Arizona who is currently serving or has served in a publicly elected capacity at a city, county, state or federal level and has demonstrated leadership that has contributed most significantly to the enhancement of the business climate for bioscience companies in the state. (Cited contributions may extend over several years.) Sen. Timothy Bee Gov. Janet Napolitano Rep. Michele Reagan
Award for Research Excellence (sponsored by Covance)
The life science researcher in Arizona who has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge and the understanding of biological processes, as measured by publications and/or professional acknowledgement of their work in either an academic or commercial setting. (Cited contributions may extend over several years.) Laurence Hurley, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson Stuart Lindsay, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe Rod Wing, University of Arizona, Tucson
Jon W. McGarity Leadership Award (sponsored by marketRx, a Cognizant Company)
The person in Arizona who provided the most outstanding leadership that contributed significantly to development of the state's bioindustry and/or recognition of the advancement of bioscience in Arizona. (Cited contributions may extend over several years.) Carol Bender, University of Arizona, Tucson Michael Berens, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix Michael Cusanovich, Arizona Research Labs, University of Arizona, Tucson
Fast Start Award (sponsored by McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Burghoff, LLP)
The most significant for-profit bioscience company headquartered in Arizona and founded on or after July 1, 2005. Apthera, Inc., Scottsdale bioVidria, Inc., Tucson Dedicated Phase I, Inc., Phoenix
Bioscience Company of the Year Award (sponsored by Snell & Wilmer, LLP)
The for-profit bioscience company whose Arizona-based operations did the most to transform the world during the last 12 months. Clinical Research Advantage, Inc., Tempe Provista Life Sciences, LLC, Phoenix SenesTech, Inc., Flagstaff
The Arizona BioIndustry Association is a not-for-profit trade association that seeks to unify, empower and advance its member organizations, who collectively form Arizona's bioscience community, and to make Arizona a place where bioscience companies can grow and succeed. AZBio is the state affiliate in Arizona for both the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the preeminent trade association for the biotechnology industry in the United States, and AdvaMed, a national trade association whose members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States.
Arizona CURE was formed in 2006 to educate the public about the benefits of research that improves every aspect of our daily lives. The organization is committed to furthering the opportunities for institutions involved in biomedical, biotechnology and bioagricultural issues to communicate with Arizonans about this important work.
