Accolades

The University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory were among the primary sponsors of the recent Biotechnology Industry Organization annual convention held at Chicago’s McCormick Place last month.

The event boasted a record attendance of 19,479 people from 43 states and 62 countries.

As part of its mission to enhance Illinois and the Midwest Region’s position as one of the world’s great life sciences centers, the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization named four researchers at the University and Argonne National Laboratory among “20 People You Should Know: The iBIO Life Sciences Innovators.” They are:

Milan Mrksich, Professor in Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, who combines synthetic chemistry with materials science to study important problems in cell biology.

Daphne Preuss, Professor in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, who studies the DNA sequences that control chromosomal inheritance leading to developments that could significantly impact agricultural technology.

Millicent Firestone, Chemist, Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, who specializes in the use of polymers to restore damaged cell membranes, preventing tissue death.

Andrzej Joachimiak, Director, Structural Biology Center and Midwest Center for Structural Genomics, Argonne National Laboratory, who focuses on understanding human and environmental health by imaging in three dimensions the molecules that control and regulate it.