2021 Iowa Biotech Leader Award Recipient Announced

CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE RESEARCHERS RECEIVE 2021 IOWA BIOTECH LEADER AWARD

The winner of the 2021 Iowa Biotech Leader Award was announced and presented on March 3, 2021, to the team members of Project Upstanding at Corteva Agriscience. This group of Corteva researchers received the award through a call for nominations and was selected by a panel of industry experts. 

Most years, the award recognizes an individual who, in the past year, demonstrated leadership in their organization and within the industry, an ability to bring innovative biotechnology products and services to the marketplace and a commitment to advocate for Iowa’s biotechnology industry. Considering the unique circumstances and challenges brought by COVID-19 over the last year, this year’s selection committee felt it was appropriate think outside the box and offer the award to a team, rather than an individual.

In March 2020, when the pandemic’s impact was being fully appreciated, scientists at Corteva saw a need to dramatically increase the availability of reliable, affordable COVID-19 tests in Iowa. An all-volunteer group of Corteva Agriscience employees, representing expertise from across the company, were quickly recruited. Together, the team was able to design, build and staff a lab with the capacity, certifications and know-how needed to address the challenge—all in a matter of weeks. 

“Corteva Agriscience has long been a leader in plant genetic analysis, developing systems that equip our researchers with the information and insights needed to develop more productive, resilient seeds. Transferring these insights to the analysis of COVID-19 tests was a natural progression, allowing us to serve our community at a time when it’s needed most,” said Sam Eathington, SVP and Chief Technology Officer at Corteva Agriscience.

Since those early days, Corteva has forged collaborations with hospital systems, universities, nursing homes and other private institutions across Iowa to press the horizon on testing systems. This group of leading scientists rose to the challenge to meet a pressing public need and were a natural fit for this award.

“The men and women at Corteva who rapidly came together to execute Project-Upstanding - The COVID-19 Diagnostic Project certainly deserve to be honored for their efforts not only in science, but also, collaboration, and their spirit of community," said IowaBio Executive Director, Jessica Hyland. "They united in this effort to help others during the pandemic in a way nearly no others could. I am proud IowaBio gets to recognize the significance of their achievements through the Biotech Leader Award.”

About IowaBio
Since 1994, the Iowa Biotechnology Association has provided benefits and services to promote the interests and growth of the life sciences industries in Iowa. We are a non-profit, membership-based organization with a diversified membership including industry companies from all segments of biotechnology, universities and colleges, state and federal associations, as well as numerous service and support companies. Our Association seeks to promote the success and growth of biotech-based business in Iowa, ultimately securing our strong biotech economy while growing our business & increasing our influence nationally and around the globe. For more information, visit IowaBio.org.

About the Iowa Biotech Showcase & Conference
The Iowa Biotech Showcase & Conference (formerly Partnering for Growth) is a two-day conference held every spring which features a biotech pitch competition, industry-specific and collaboration-focused track sessions, plenary keynotes and sessions, and networking features. IBSC brings together innovators, investors, biotech leaders, and support vendors, and provides top-notch information and content for our diverse membership.

This is the fifth year the award has been included as part of IowaBio’s annual event. This year’s award was sponsored and presented by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is one of the world’s largest animal health companies. The company employs more than 3,100 people in the U.S., including at a site in Ames, Iowa, that conducts research into vaccines for animals, and at its largest U.S. manufacturing site in St. Joseph, Missouri, where the company makes vaccines for swine, cattle and horses.