INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 22, 2022) — BioCrossroads’ Board of Directors today named former executive vice president of strategy of BioCrossroads and managing director of the Indiana Seed Funds, Nora Doherty, as the recipient of the 2022 August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award. The prestigious honor, named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, was given to Doherty at today’s Indiana Life Sciences Summit and 20^th Anniversary CELLebration.

Some of Doherty’s most significant achievements included developing a market for Indiana’s life sciences start-ups, including forming and managing funding mechanisms, engaging with universities and start-ups, and organizing new enterprises.

Recognizing the need for early stage or seed stage capital, BioCrossroads, began a Seed Fund program in 2005, with Doherty as Manager; followed by Fund II in 2012; and Fund III in 2018. These three Indiana Seed Funds, totaling $24.25 million, have invested in 32 life sciences start-ups since 2006. Those companies have gone on to raise an additional $796 million, more than 33 times BioCrossroads’ initial investment. In addition to returns to investors, the Funds have succeeded in unlocking considerable new (and lasting) entrepreneurial activity and talent, spurred the participation of significant additional investors and forged invaluable relationships with Indiana’s research universities, the State of Indiana and national venture capital firms.

In addition, Doherty has guided dozens of start-up companies with her advice, wisdom, and connections. She has also served on advisory committees for the Indiana Future Fund ($73M), INext ($58M), and Next Level Fund ($250M).

“Nora’s work with start-ups encouraged deep relationships with our research institutions, especially Indiana and Purdue universities, bringing some of their innovations to market. It has also led to productive collaborations between industry and academia,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “She is incredibly well regarded by many of the leading scientists and start-up CEOs in the state, as well as venture capital fund managers across the country. She was instrumental in putting Indiana’s life sciences entrepreneurial ecosystem on the map.”

In addition to BioCrossroads’ capital strategy, Doherty’s strategic insight over two decades has driven a number of successful research projects that helped identify a collective response to a changing environment, including the launch of the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (2012) and activation of 16 Tech (2015).

Doherty’s impact is evident through the management of a research report that turned into an actionable and impactful project — Analytix Indiana. She conceptualized and facilitated the 2020 TEConomy Partners study titled Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics in Indiana: An Initial Discussion of Industry Needs and University Capabilities. This study supported the creation of Analytix Indiana, an initiative to support the recruitment of academic talent, foster corporate and academic collaboration, create significant data assets to support both life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and establish an Indianapolis-based common place for university and industry engagement at the 16 Tech Innovation District.

Doherty has always had a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Prior to her work at BioCrossroads, she was a co-founder, vice president of operations and vice president legal, human resources and administration, and corporate secretary with Indianapolis-based Escient Technologies.

“It is difficult, if not impossible, to capture the full impact of Nora’s initiative, intellect and leadership on Indiana’s life sciences sector,” remarked Martin. “She has tirelessly, often from behind the scenes, ensured that ideas were activated and results achieved.”

Previous August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners include:

• Leonard Betley, retired chairman, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation
• Richard DiMarchi, Standiford H. Cox professor of Chemistry and the Linda & Jack Gill chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University. Co-founder of Ambrx, Inc., Marcadia Biotech, Calibrium, MB2 and MBX
• Dane A. Miller, founder of Biomet
• Bill Cook, founder of Cook Group
• Lilly Endowment, under the leadership of Chairman Thomas Lofton
• Phillip Low, Ralph C. Corley distinguished professor of Chemistry and director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery—Biochemistry, co-founder of Endocyte and On Target Laboratories
• Bill Eason, founder of Bio-Dynamics, predecessor to Roche Diagnostics
• John Lechleiter, former chairman, president and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company
• John Swisher, founder of JBS United
• Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Public Health Department
• Anantha Shekhar, former executive associate dean for research affairs at the IU School of Medicine
• Clem McDonald, chief health data standards officer of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health
• Harvey Feigenbaum, “Father of Echocardiography” (Echo), distinguished professor, Indiana University School of Medicine.
• Pete Kissinger, Purdue University professor and founder of Inotiv

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Sep. 26, 2019 — Today at the Indiana Life Sciences Summit, BioCrossroads’ Board of Directors named Dr. Clem J. McDonald recipient of the 2019 August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award. The prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, was given to Dr. McDonald for his unprecedented impact on health IT and digital health in Indiana and abroad.

Previously a distinguished professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine and director of the Regenstrief Institute for Health Care, Dr. McDonald is known as the “grandfather of EMR” after developing one of the nation’s first electronic medical record systems and the first community-wide clinical data repository, the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC), which enables the Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE).  The INPC has widely contributed to clinical trials research and patient health as well as epidemiologic studies, including the discovery of the association between an antibiotic given to newborns and the development of a digestive issue and the severity and mapping of flu outbreaks.

He was one of the founders of the Health Level 7 (HL7) message standards, used in all hospitals today, and also developed the Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes (LOINC) database of more than 80,000 universal codes for clinical observations, including laboratory tests, clinical measurements and physician reports. It is used in 172 countries and is available in Chinese, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish in addition to English.

Today, Dr. McDonald is Chief Health Data Standards Officer, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, where he collaborates in numerous efforts to facilitate industry adoption of standard vocabularies in EMR and public health reporting, as required by meaningful use regulations.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development of Indiana’s life sciences and healthcare research, clinical, educational or economic advancement.

“Dr. McDonald’s impact on health IT and digital health has not only greatly impacted the healthcare delivery system for Hoosiers, but has improved the way we deliver healthcare to patients in every hospital in the country today,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO, BioCrossroads.

Dr. McDonald joins an impressive list of previous Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners, including:

• Leonard Betley, retired Chairman, President and CEO of Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation;
• Richard DiMarchi, Standiford H. Cox Professor of Chemistry and the Linda & Jack GillChair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University. Co-founder of Ambrx, Inc., Marcadia Biotech, Calibrium and MB2.
• Dane A. Miller, founder of Biomet
• Bill Cook, founder of Cook Group
• Lilly Endowment under the leadership of Chairman Thomas Lofton
• Phillip Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery—Biochemistry, co-founder of Endocyte and On Target Laboratories.
• Bill Eason, founder of Bio-Dynamics, predecessor to Roche Diagnostics
• John Lechleiter, former Chairman, President and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company
• John Swisher, Founder, JBS United
• Virginia Caine, Director of the Marion County Department of Public Health
• Anantha Shekhar, M.D., Ph.D., executive associate dean for research affairs at the Indiana University School of Medicine

“I am honored and touched to receive this award named for Gus Watanabe, who was a great leader and scientist at Indiana University School of Medicine and at Eli Lilly.  He was also my boss, mentor and dear friend,” said McDonald. “I am also honored to be in the company of previous award winners who had such strong impacts on our state of Indiana.”

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Oct. 10, 2017 — BioCrossroads Board of Directors named Marion County Public Health Department Director Virginia A. Caine, M.D., the 2017 recipient of the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, at today’s Indiana Life Sciences Summit.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development of Indiana’s life sciences and healthcare research, clinical, educational or economic advancement.

Dr. Caine is an ardent voice for public health and access to medical care for the disadvantaged.  She sits at many tables  —  at the local, state and national levels to advocate and encourage policy that will better healthcare, including serving on committees for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  In 2004, she served as president of the American Public Health Association, the nation’s oldest and largest public health organization.

In addition to her role as director of the Marion County Public Health Department, Dr. Caine is also an Associate Professor of Medicine for the Infectious Disease division of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

“Dr. Caine is a convener and a catalyst and a center of constructive activity.  Leading by example and advocacy, she has been driving to build a better, fairer and more inclusive healthcare sector and policies for our region over the entire time that BioCrossroads has been seeking to do the same — pushing our state, our industry and our providers to do more to improve healthcare for our citizens,” said David. L. Johnson, president and CEO of BioCrossroads.  “Her outreach and influence have ripple effects and are felt not only in Indiana, but in her work at the national level.”

Dr. Caine’s vision and energy is focused on making Marion County one of the healthiest communities in the country, with significant attention to underserved populations. She established the first countywide HIV/AIDS integrated health care delivery system involving major hospitals, community health centers, and social service agencies; and the first HIV dental clinic. As co-director of the Indianapolis Healthy Babies Initiative, Dr. Caine worked with community leaders to reduce a record level black infant mortality rate to its lowest level ever in the history of the city.

Among her numerous leadership positions in the community, Dr. Caine has served on the Fairbanks Institute (Life Sciences) Board of Directors, the Indiana State Department of Health women’s advisory committee, the national advisory committee for the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, co-chair of Jump IN for Healthy Kids, chair of the MESH Coalition, member of the Indiana Health Information Exchange, Inc. Board of Directors, and chair of the Indiana University School of Medicine Simon Cancer Center Health Disparities Advisory Committee. Nationally, she serves on the National Biodefense Science Board, and CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Editorial Board.

“A challenge of any community is to understand how population health is tied very closely to its current and future success,” said Dr. Caine. “By researching the issues and offering programs that meet public health needs, we strive to have a positive impact and help our residents achieve a better quality of life. I am humbled by this honor and appreciate the tremendous community support of our public health efforts in Marion County.”

Dr. Caine joins an impressive list of previous Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners, including:

• Leonard Betley, retired Chairman, President and CEO of Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation;
• Richard DiMarch, Standiford H. Cox Professor of Chemistry and the Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University. Co-founder of Ambrx, Inc., Marcadia Biotech, Calibrium and MB2.
• Dane A. Miller, founder of BioMet
• Bill Cook, founder of Cook Group
• Lilly Endowment under the leadership of Chairman Thomas Lofton
• Phillip Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery—Biochemistry, co-founder of Endocyte and On Target Laboratories.
• Bill Eason, founder of Bio-Dynamics, predecessor to Roche Diagnostics
• John Lechleiter, Chairman, President and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company
• John Swisher, Founder, JBS United

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Oct. 5, 2016 — BioCrossroads Board of Directors named John Swisher, founder of JBS United, the 2016 winner of the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, at today’s Indiana Life Sciences Summit.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development and promotion of Indiana’s life sciences research, educational or economic advancement.

JBS United, originally focused on swine research and pork production economics, has developed the largest swine nutrition research farm system in the U.S.’s animal nutrition industry. Swisher’s keen sense for emerging market trends and investment in research led to the creation of a system that would solve complex nutrition and production challenges for large pork producers across Indiana, the United States and around the world. Since founding JBS United in 1956, Swisher has cultivated a culture of innovation that over the years has transformed the way commercial pork producers do business and also revolutionized the industry. Some of his achievements include engagement in international joint ventures, investment in leading agtech companies, and donating much needed protein for underserved Indiana communities.

Over the last 20 years, JBS United has transitioned to a biotech-oriented nutrition company, which has developed FDA approved next-generation feed enzymes that have garnered high global market share for swine and poultry feeds.

“Ag-focused technologies form a leading component of Indiana’s diverse life sciences industry, and over the past 60 years, John Swisher has become an international icon for what it means to be a reputable, effective and visionary agbiosciences entrepreneur,” said David L. Johnson, President and CEO of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and BioCrossroads. “He truly understands the importance of investing in the best people, research, and technology to spur innovation.”

Today, JBS United’s areas of expertise lie in research-based animal nutrition products, biotechnology applications in feed enzymes and microbials, livestock production, animal health products for swine reproductive efficiency and web-based data management systems for traceability applications in livestock production. Led by Swisher, more than 300 employees work together to develop some of the most extensive swine research facilities and capabilities in the world.

Currently, JBS United has 17 technology research centers and 18 production scale research facilities.

“John Swisher is undeniably a life sciences champion,” said Beth Bechdol, President and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana, a state initiative focused on the agbiosciences sector. “His innovative approach to research and business has not only revolutionized agricultural production practices, but has more importantly led to technologies and solutions that help address our collective challenge of producing more food with fewer resources.”

Previous Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners include:

• Leonard Betley, retired Chairman, President and CEO of Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation
• Richard DiMarch, Standiford H. Cox Professor of Chemistry and the Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University. Co-founder of Ambrx, Inc., Marcadia Biotech, Calibrium and MB2.
• Dane A. Miller, founder of BioMet
• Bill Cook, founder of Cook Group
• Lilly Endowment under the leadership of Chairman Thomas Lofton
• Phillip Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery—Biochemistry
• John Lechleiter, Chairman, President and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company

BioCrossroads’ annual award recognizes Eason’s Innovative spirit and dedication to Indianapolis

Indianapolis, October 15, 2015 – BioCrossroads awarded Willard “Bill” Eason, the late founder of Roche Diagnostics predecessor company Bio-Dynamics, the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late first Chairman. Bio-Dynamics flourished on Hague Road in Indianapolis in the 1960s following Eason’s invention of a point of care blood glucose monitor.  The company was purchased by Boehringer Mannheim, and later acquired to become Roche Diagnostics’ North American headquarters.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development and promotion of Indiana’s life sciences research, educational or economic advancement.

A graduate of Butler University, Eason was a chemical engineer for Ford Motor Company when he left to start creating diagnostic equipment in his Indianapolis garage. His tinkering led him to found Bio-Dynamics and create the Unimeter, the first diagnostics equipment of its kind. The first Unimeter tested blood glucose levels at the point of care instead of having blood sent to a laboratory, improving patient health and saving time and money.

“As a chemical engineer, he would get frustrated when it would take a week, ten days or a month to get blood work back,” Donna Dowd, Bill Eason’s daughter recalled, “I think that’s where the idea all started. He wanted to develop a test that would make getting this information more efficient. From this idea, came the Unimeter, which could run a blood test in three minutes in a doctor’s office. He loved science, and he always knew there was something new to be discovered.”

The Unimeter grew into what is now known worldwide as the Accu-Chek brand and shaped diabetes care as it is practiced today. In addition, the Unimeter played a role in the development of many other diagnostic tests now performed in doctors’ offices. Eason’s innovative spirit and passion for improving patient care has improved the lives of millions of people.

“Bill’s impact is immeasurable –  from the growth going on at Roche Diagnostics to Indianapolis’ vibrant sports community to his diagnostic innovations,” said Jack Phillips, president and CEO, Roche Diagnostics.  “His contributions have influenced our employees, Central Indiana and patients all over the world, and I’m thrilled that BioCrossroads and the life sciences community are recognizing such an incredible person.”

Eason was an entrepreneurial leader and grew Bio-Dynamics faster than any other company of its time over the course of ten years.  He also made a lasting impact on his employees – known as a fair yet demanding leader. He was a risk-taker and thought “outside the box” – a signature component of Roche’s culture even today.

Eason also worked to support the growth of Indianapolis in many other ways. He owned the Indiana Pacers when the team was a part of the American Basketball Association and tirelessly worked with a group of stakeholders to keep the Pacers in Indiana, when it appeared that the Pacers might be lured to California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Eason invested a lot into the Pacers in part because of his belief that talent would not be drawn to the state without major league entertainment. In addition, the restlessly entrepreneurial Eason owned a farm in Brown County where he experimented with innovative agricultural strategies, and even explored for oil throughout the state.

“Bill is another example of larger-than-life Hoosier entrepreneurs like Bill Cook and Dane Miller who have made a lasting impact on the life sciences industry, as well as our state, through the sheer force of their talent, personality and persistence,” said David L. Johnson, president and CEO of BioCrossroads.

Eason joins award winners: Leonard Betley, chairman, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and chairman of the Regenstrief Foundation and Walther Cancer Foundation (2008); Richard DiMarchi, Ph.D., Standiford H. Cox Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, and founder of Marcadia Biotech (2009); Dane A. Miller, Ph.D., founder and former chief executive officer of Biomet (2010); Bill Cook, founder of Cook Group (2011); the Lilly Endowment under the leadership of the late Chairman Thomas Lofton (2012); Phillip Low, Ph.D., Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery, and founder of Endocyte (2013); and John Lechleiter, Ph.D., Chairman, President, and CEO of Eli Lily and Company and (2014).

Eli Lilly and Company Chairman, President and CEO John C. Lechleiter honored as Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year

BioCrossroads’ annual award recognizes Dr. Lechleiter’s visionary leadership

Indianapolis, October 15, 2014 –   BioCrossroads today awarded John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., chairman, president and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, with the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late first Chairman.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development and promotion of Indiana’s life sciences research, educational or economic advancement.

“John Lechleiter has been the principal visionary and moving force behind our efforts to advance Indiana’s life sciences sector from the very first days of people even beginning to talk about this region’s need for something like BioCrossroads,” said David L. Johnson, president and CEO, BioCrossroads. “He was one of our original organizers and supporters in 2002, and ever since, he has worked strategically and ceaselessly to engage both his colleagues at Lilly and leaders across the broader community to push ourselves forward to become the best we can possibly be when it comes to developing truly world-class life sciences assets, investments and talent here, culminating in his championship of our efforts to drive the creation of the new Indiana Biosciences Research Institute.”

It was two years ago at the Indiana Life Sciences Summit that Dr. Lechleiter made the call to action for the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute.  He made a compelling case for bringing together industry with our research universities in a new, industry-led research institute that could engage in more entrepreneurial and commercial success and recruit world-class talent to Indiana.

Since that time, the Institute has raised $50 million, including significant support from Eli Lilly and Company, as well as from other corporate and philanthropic leaders and the State of Indiana.  The IBRI continues to make progress and has achieved several milestones.

Dr. Lechleiter joined Lilly in 1979 as a senior organic chemist and has served in a variety of key management roles over the years in product development, regulatory affairs, project management, and operations.  He was named Lilly’s president and chief operating offer in 2005 and has served as president and chief executive officer since 2008 and chairman of the board of directors since 2009.

Dr. Lechleiter holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Xavier University and Master’s and doctoral degrees in organic chemistry from Harvard University.  Dr. Lechleiter is a member of the American Chemical Society and Business Roundtable.  He serves on the board of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), as president of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), as chairman of the U.S. – Japan Business Council and of United Way Worldwide, and on the boards of the Life Sciences Foundation and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.  He also serves on the board of directors at both Nike, Inc. and Ford Motor Company.

Dr. Lechleiter joins award winners: Leonard Betley, chairman, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and chairman of the Regenstrief Foundation and Walther Cancer Foundation (2008); Richard DiMarchi, Ph.D., Standiford H. Cox Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences and founder of Marcadia Biotech (2009); Dane A. Miller, Ph.D., founder and former chief executive officer of Biomet (2010); Bill Cook, founder of Cook Group (2011); the Lilly Endowment under the leadership of Chairman Thomas Lofton (2012); and Phillip Low, Ph.D., Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery, and founder of Endocyte (2013).

The late Bill Cook receives the Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award for
countless contributions to Indiana’s communities and to worldwide health;
Anne Shane receives inaugural BioCrossroads Catalyst Award for productivity and passion
in bringing a sector together

Indianapolis, October 26, 2011 – At the eighth annual Indiana Life Sciences Summit today,
BioCrossroads recognized the late William A. Cook, the founder of Bloomington-based Cook Group and
one of the world’s great entrepreneurial success stories, with the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences
Champion of the Year award. Cook Group President Kem Hawkins accepted the award as a tribute to
his friend and colleague.
Now the largest privately held medical device company in the world, the company began humbly in the
Cook’s apartment in 1963, crafting catheters, needles and wire guides by hand and connecting directly
with physicians for sales. A constant innovator and medical pioneer in the field of minimally invasive
medicine, the company grew rapidly, and now has more than 15,000 products on the market in the
areas of interventional radiology and peripheral intervention, urology, critical care medicine including
antimicrobial-impregnated catheters, gastroenterology, general surgery and many others. With annual
sales of approximately $2 billion, Cook Group now employs about 6,500 Hoosiers and total global
employment exceeds 10,000.
“With uncommon vision, compassion, and persistence on the part of everyone who has ever worked
here, Cook Group has grown into a generous and caring global company. An unrelenting commitment
to preserving and protecting the future of our company has guaranteed that the organization will go on
to serve our employees, our communities and our patients for many years to come,” said Hawkins. “At
Cook, the patient always comes first. From the start, this company has been a true pioneer and its
innovations have had a dramatic effect that changed the course of medical treatment. We are pleased,
and Bill would have been honored, to receive this recognition of our company’s achievements named
after one of his closest friends and colleagues, Gus Watanabe.”
“Bill started from humble beginnings, and then went right on to build major portions of a whole
economy,” said Dr. Craig Brater, Dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine and Chairman of
the Board of BioCrossroads. “He has had an enormous influence for the good in bettering our state’s
science and math education, improving the health of his community, and advancing the cause of
historic preservation. We lost a great man and true friend earlier this year, but Bill’s legacy, including is company the Cook Group, will benefit Hoosiers and patients around the world for generations to
come.”
The Watanabe Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a signature contribution to
the growth of the state’s life sciences sector through innovation and unparalleled achievement, and who
personifies the emerging face of Indiana’s life sciences industry.
Also at today’s conference, Anne Shane, a longtime community leader and one of the original organizers
of the collaboration that ultimately became BioCrossroads, received the first BioCrossroads Catalyst
Award. The BioCrossroads Catalyst Award honors an individual who has been an accelerator and
activator in Indiana’s life sciences industry — one who has helped to bring the sector together, and
further helped to sustain it through targeted, strategic and collaborative energy and efforts.
In February 2012, BioCrossroads will celebrate its tenth anniversary. Shane played a pivotal role in the
original organization of the initiative, gathering critical support from leaders across the public and
private sectors as well as from academia and the scientific community. Later at BioCrossroads, Shane’s
efforts focused particularly on developing science and mathematics education programs offering the
promise to prepare Indiana’s next generation with the skills required to work and advance in some of
the state’s best and highest paying jobs. In this role, Shane spearheaded the formation of the Indiana
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (ISTEM) Resource Network, managed today by
Purdue University. Shane helped secure nearly $10 million in funding from the Lilly Endowment, the
Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, the State of Indiana and other stakeholders to further I-STEM’s
efforts in training hundreds of teachers and thousands of students across the state.
“Anne’s early and insistent vision, along with her strong community ties and superb organizational
skills, were what made the difference in moving BioCrossroads from a good idea into a functioning and
productive initiative that has gone on to do considerable good work for our community and our state,”
said David Johnson, BioCrossroads CEO. “From the beginning, Anne saw the potential, and made sure
that others saw it and helped to build it too. I can think of no one who has made more of a difference in
bringing the right people together for the right reasons, or who has played such a critical role in helping
Hoosiers to have better jobs today, and have the chance to be better educated for jobs tomorrow in
Indiana’s promising life sciences sector,” Johnson said.
Shane also organized a collaboration with the University of Notre Dame to bring the National Math and
Science Initiative Advanced Placement Strategies program to Indiana to accelerate the number of high
school students taking and passing math and science AP courses
“Working with the extraordinary team of people who remain at BioCrossroads and with the leadership
of Gus Watanabe, Indiana has built one of the most credible and effective economic cluster initiatives in
the country. I was honored to play a small part in that and accept this award with gratitude.”
About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads (www.biocrossroads.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life
sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s research and corporate strengths
while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads provides money and support to life
sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Health Information Exchange,
Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, BioCrossroadsLINX, Datalys Center and OrthoWorx)
expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science
education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.

Indianapolis, October 27, 2010 – At the seventh annual Indiana Life Sciences Summit today, BioCrossroads recognized one of the state’s most successful entrepreneurs Dane A. Miller, Ph. D, founder and former chief executive officer of Biomet, with the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman.

Dr. Miller founded the global orthopedic giant, Biomet, just thirty years ago in the orthopedics capital of the world, Warsaw, Indiana. A true entrepreneur, he and several other founders (who also worked together to provide the angel investment to start Biomet) wanted to build a company committed to providing innovative solutions for the needs of the orthopedic industry. The company hit $1.1 million in sales after only two years in business, rapidly establishing an enterprise that, along with neighboring orthopedics giants Zimmer, Inc., and DePuy Orthopaedics, has made Warsaw home to three of the world’s five largest orthopedics device companies.

“The success of Biomet through Dane’s early vision and leadership has raised Indiana’s national visibility as a center for the life sciences, and Warsaw as the world capital of the orthopedic industry. In addition, because Warsaw is the hotbed of the orthopedics world, many supportive companies have been built around the area, employing thousands of people,” said D. Craig Brater, M.D., Dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine and Chairman of the Board of BioCrossroads. “Dane is one of the primary catalysts for the surge in Kosciusko and surrounding counties’ businesses and growth, and to keeping Indiana’s economy strong because of his influence in the medical device industry.”

Some of Dr. Miller’s achievements:

• In only 25 years, the company went from $17,000 of revenue to nearly $2.0 billion, sold products in more than 100 countries and hired more than 6,300 “team members”.
• Even though Miller is not from Indiana, rather than moving the company outside of the state, he decided to stay in Warsaw, and consistently expanded Biomet’s facilities and employee headcount when he was CEO.
• He was named Indiana Small Business Person of the Year in 1984. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush awarded him with the Small Business Association National Entrepreneurial Success award.
• In 2005, Governor Mitch Daniels named Miller to the inaugural board of directors of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
• Even though his company was making over a billion dollars and CEOs at other billion dollar companies were taking home million dollar salaries, Miller kept his salary relatively low. In fact, he was recognized by Forbes magazine as representing one of the best “values” for shareholders among CEOs in the country.
• Miller’s philanthropic commitment has made a unique impact on the Kosciusko County landscape. In 2003, Miller received the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana award for restoration of Warsaw’s neighboring community Winona Lake; in 2010, Miller led the initiative to move the national headquarters of the Remnant Trust to Kosciusko County.

“On behalf of Indiana’s medical device industry, it is a great honor to receive this coveted award,” Dr. Miller. “This is a thanks to the entire team at Biomet for their dedicated efforts, so I share this distinction with them.”

In addition, as part of the award, BioCrossroads is giving grants to two teachers in Kosciusko County, where Dr. Miller lives, in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines to pursue professional development.

The Watanabe Award is presented annual to an individual who has made a significant positive impact on the growth of the state’s life sciences sector, made noteworthy achievements in the development and promotion Indiana’s life sciences and personifies the emerging face of the Indiana life sciences industry. Nominations for the 2010 award were submitted to BioCrossroads and a list of finalists was determined. The award winner was voted on by the BioCrossroads Board of Directors.

Award renamed in honor of former BioCrossroads Chairman

Indianapolis, October 20, 2009 – At the sixth annual Indiana Life Sciences Forum today, BioCrossroads recognized one of the world’s leading peptide scientists and biotechnology entrepreneurs for his significant impact on Indiana’s life sciences greatness and growth –Richard DiMarchi, Ph.D., the Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences and Professor of Chemistry at Indiana University and Chief Scientific Officer of Marcadia Biotech. Dr. DiMarchi received the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman.

Dr. DiMarchi is a steward of Indiana’s life sciences growth, and he encompasses the award’s mission to “honor an individual who has made significant achievements in the development and promotion of Indiana’s life sciences sector and promotes innovative development of the life sciences in Indiana.”

“Richard has been an incredible catalyst for bridging industry with academia, and has brought national attention to the life sciences efforts in Indiana. He has earned a prominent role as one of the leading peptide scientists in the world and is also building one of the most promising biotech companies in the U.S.,” said D. Craig Brater, MD. Dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine and Interim Chairman of the Board of BioCrossroads. “He personifies the emerging face of Indiana’s life sciences sector, and utilizes that role to support and mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs and scientists. And his research and entrepreneurial endeavors are focused on two of the most critical health needs in the U.S. – diabetes and obesity.”

Some of Dr. DiMarchi’s achievements:

• Together with a Prof Hank Mosberg at the University of Michigan, Dr. DiMarchi spearheaded the 21st American Peptide Symposium in June 2009 which brought over 700 scientists from around the world to Bloomington, IN
• He is a retired Group Vice President at Eli Lilly & Company where for more than two decades he provided leadership in biotechnology, endocrine research and product development. Nearly all of the current biotechnology products at Lilly have benefitted from a contribution made by Dr. DiMarchi somewhere in the pharmaceutical value chain.
• He is a co-founder of Ambrx , Inc. and Marcadia Biotech.
• At Indiana University, Dr. DiMarchi holds the Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences. His research group is focused on the field of chemical biotechnology which pertains to thedevelopment of cutting edge chemical technologies for application to macromolecules for medicinal purposes. During his tenure at Indiana University, he has been associated with the selection of ten macromolecule-based clinical candidates through his independent research and discoveries made at Marcadia and Ambrx
• He currently serves as Chairman of the Ambrx Scientific Advisory Board and Chief Scientific Officer at Marcadia.
• He was previously a board member to the biotechnology trade group BIO and the American Peptide Society, as well as life sciences companies Millennium Biotherapeutics and Inproteo
• He currently serves as Board member to Isis Pharmaceuticals, and is a scientific advisor to Kai Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, 5AM Ventures, Zydus-Cadila Healthcare and Twilight Ventures.
• Dr. DiMarchi singly or jointly holds more than 90 patents and has published over 120 scientific papers
• He is the recipient of the 2005 Career Research Achievement Award in Biotechnology from the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and the American Chemical Society (ACS) has honored him with the 2006 Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management, the 2006 Gustavus Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Service of Public Interest, and the 2007 Wallace Carothers Award for Excellence in Polymer Sciences

“I am incredibly touched and honored to receive this award, especially this year since it has been renamed as a tribute to my close friend and esteemed colleague, Gus Watanabe. Gus’s legacy is in the people that he birthed, mentored and retained, both in academia and in industry,” said Dr. DiMarchi. “And it’s my commitment to continue important work in the laboratory as well as to nurture the broader life sciences community in the spirit that Gus exemplified for all of us.”

In addition, as part of the award, BioCrossroads is giving grants to two teachers in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines to pursue professional development through the Indiana Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (I-STEM) Resource Network.

2010 Life Sciences Champion of the Year nominations will be accepted in late Spring of 2010. Nominations for the 2009 award were submitted to BioCrossroads and a list of finalists was determined. The award winner was voted on by the BioCrossroads Board of Directors.