Sponsored by:
Creating a culture of innovation is the cornerstone of progress to foster an environment where new ideas, processes, products and services can flourish. For San Antonio’s thriving $44 billion bioscience and health care industry, embracing innovation is more than just a strategic move. It is also a transformative step toward establishing ourselves as a City of Science and Health.
San Antonio’s health care and bioscience sector represents an unparalleled fusion of unique assets, abundant resources and an unwavering spirit of collaboration. Visionary leaders and innovators in our community have already touched countless lives locally and globally, elevating the quality of life for millions of people.
BioMedSA’s Award for Innovation in Healthcare and Bioscience stands at the forefront of this progress: an event that goes beyond individual recognition. This annual celebration catalyzes entrepreneurs, learners and dreamers in their pursuit to turn opportunities into powerful outcomes. By honoring distinguished individuals and their groundbreaking work (including homegrown innovations that flourish in San Antonio), this celebration fuels the industry’s growth. It also propels us closer to becoming a world-class city of excellence in biosciences and health care.
Among one of the many driving forces propelling San Antonio forward is the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), a symbol of prominence and excellence in our community. UT Health San Antonio has catalyzed the flourishing health care and bioscience industry. Notably, one of every six San Antonians finds meaningful employment in this people-focused and community-driven industry.
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. William Henrich, UT Health San Antonio has achieved remarkable strides in education, clinical care, biomedical research and community service. With an institutional budget exceeding $1.3 billion, a workforce of 8,000 and a research portfolio worth approximately $400 million, UT Health San Antonio consistently sets new standards for progress and innovation.
Our community continues to attract and retain some of the brightest minds in the country, exemplified by renowned researchers like Dr. Sunil Ahuja. As a highly recognized professor and Director of the Center for Personalized Medicine at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (as well as a professor in multiple fields at UT Health San Antonio), Ahuja’s groundbreaking work in immune system studies, aging, allergy and asthma, and infectious diseases (including COVID-19) has garnered national recognition. Throughout his career, Ahuja has secured federal and foundation grants totaling approximately $45 million since 1996. Leaders in his field have recognized his work, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, with whom Ahuja worked while serving at the National Institutes of Health.
Notably, Ahuja’s pioneering research was instrumental in uncovering the cellular molecule used by the HIV-1 virus to infiltrate white blood cells: a critical breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Most recently, his groundbreaking concept of immune resilience has played a pivotal role in improving outcomes for veterans battling COVID-19 during the pandemic.
San Antonio’s unique ecosystem provides fertile ground for cutting-edge research, driving remarkable progress in the fields of infectious diseases, wound care, neurological disorders and cancer. With more than 1,800 active clinical trials, San Antonio boasts a robust infrastructure leading groundbreaking research. The community’s dedication to advancing infectious disease research is evident, with more than 100 clinical trials annually. The results include more than 450 publications and securing $230 million in research awards over the last three years alone.
As we celebrate and empower the pioneering research taking place in our city, we send a resounding message: San Antonio is at the forefront of innovation in science and health. Our unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge and improving lives solidifies our position as a premier national hub for progress, innovation and transformative breakthroughs.
BioMedSA’s 2023 Innovation in Healthcare and Bioscience Award honorees are Henrich, who is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Ahuja, who is being recognized as the 2023 Innovation Award winner. To learn more about previous award winners and how to support the 2023 Award for Innovation in Healthcare and Bioscience event on Sept. 7, visit BioMedSA.org/innovation-award.
BioMedSA is a nonprofit, membership-based organization partially supported by the City of San Antonio. Its mission is to accelerate the growth of San Antonio’s health care and bioscience sector, create regional economic benefit, and contribute to the health of San Antonio and beyond. The organization supports local companies with information, training and resource connections; facilitates and innovates actions for growth; and promotes the region’s capabilities. BioMedSA is the regional industry hub. It aims to establish San Antonio as a global leader in health care and bioscience. To learn more about BioMedSA, visit BioMedSA.org.
