May 26, 2009 —The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) selected SynBERC Director Jay Keasling as the honoree for the first annual Biotech Humanitarian Award. Keasling was selected not only for his professional accomplishments to date, but also for the promise and potential that his research holds. Dr. Keasling was presented the Award during a keynote luncheon held at the 2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta, GA. He was presented with a $10,000 award to help support his work.

Keasling is working on a synthetic biology technique that, at commercial scale, will diversify the supply of artemisinin, the key component in artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), the WHO-recommended first-line treatment for malaria. This breakthrough is expected to reduce the cost of artemisinin and enable millions of people infected with malaria to gain access to lower-cost, life-saving treatments. The synthetic biology technology behind this breakthrough can also be used to help produce a next-generation biofuel.

“Dr. Keasling embodies the high standard we have set for the Biotech Humanitarian Award. He has led the development of breakthrough science that will greatly help reduce human suffering,” said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO. “Dr. Keasling’s work has the potential to save the lives of millions of people in the developing world who suffer from malaria, and also to address the global need for clean, renewable energy. We are thrilled to honor his work and present him as our inaugural Biotech Humanitarian honoree.”

More details about the award are available on BIO's news site.