How These John Holaday Leadership Award Finalists Are Shaping the BioHealth Capital Region

There is no award in the BioHealth Capital Region quite like BioBuzz’s ‘John Holaday’ BioHealth Leader of the Year Award. Nominated by and voted on by the community and dearest BioBuzz readers, and presented with the support of our partners US Pharmacopeia (USP), Avantor, MilliporeSigma, Blackbird Labs, Integral Molecular, and Life Science Wealth, this award is one of six that BioBuzz presents annually, recognizing a regional biohealth leader whose unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation mirrors that of the late John Holaday, PhD, CEO and Founder of EntreMed and MaxCyte.

The Man of Maryland Medicine

Dr. Holaday was a highly accomplished pharmaceutical executive, entrepreneur, and medical scholar. His background in research and development led to the optimization and manufacturing of products through clinical trials while managing the regulatory processes. He built strategic partnerships that allowed him to hold more than 90 patents and fellowships in the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (FACNP) & Critical Care Medicine (FCCM), as well as having published more than 230 scientific articles and book chapters, and four books. 

It should also be noted that the doctor served as a captain in the U.S. Army and at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research as an officer and civilian for 21 years. He raised more than $500 million for a variety of pharmaceutical companies with a collective market capitalization or exit value of more than $3 billion.

“Dr. Holaday was instrumental in laying the foundation for the thriving biohealth industry that exists in the region today,” said Chris Frew, Chief Executive Officer of BioBuzz Networks. “BioBuzz is deeply honored to continue celebrating his legacy through this award. Our 2024 finalists reflect the same visionary leadership and spirit of innovation that Dr. Holaday exemplified throughout his career. We are proud to recognize their invaluable contributions to the ongoing growth and success of the BioHealth sector.”

Without further adieu, here’s a bit more on our 2024 finalists of the John Holaday Leadership Award. 

Bert Vogelstein, MD, Oncologist & Cancer Research Expert, John Hopkins

Bert Vogelstein, a Johns Hopkins oncologist and cancer research expert, has founded several cancer diagnostic companies and biotechs, including:

• Haystack Oncology. A blood-testing startup that uses liquid biopsies to detect cancer in people who have already been diagnosed, Haystack was acquired by Quest Diagnostics six months after its launch in 2021 for $450 million.

  

• Clasp Therapeutics. A biotech that uses T cell engagers (TCEs) to treat cancers that don't respond to other treatments. Clasp was formed in 2020 by Vogelstein and Drew Pardoll, another Johns Hopkins oncologist, and is based on their work on mutation-associated neoantigens (MANAs). 

• ManaT Bio. A KRAS biotech that was formed in 2020 by Vogelstein and Pardoll. ManaT is currently in a $153 million funding round.

• PapGene. A startup formed in 2015 by Vogelstein, Ken Kinzler, and Nickolas Papadopoulos to commercialize a liquid biopsy test that uses cervical fluid to detect cancer.

Dr. Vogelstein has also been involved with other cancer diagnostic companies, including Exact Sciences, Inostics, and PGDx.

Dr. Vogelstein is another prime example of excellence and leadership with a past of rewards for his medical breakthroughs. He was the winner of the Dr. Paul Jansen Award in 2015 for his exemplary approach to cancer research for the global scientific community. Along with his colleagues Papadopoulos and Kinzler, Vogelstein has spent much of his career working on ways not just to treat cancer but to detect it before it becomes a threat. It is no small feat for one to acquire a $2.15 billion acquisition to further their research for a blood test that has an earlier detection of cancer incorporated into routine medical care. This acquisition of their company, Thrive Earlier Detection Corp., is just one of many of his founded global leaders in cancer-detection testing and research. 

Bill Niland, CEO, ReGelTec, Inc.

Bill Niland is a serial healthcare entrepreneur who has founded and successfully exited four different companies in the healthcare space. Bill is currently the CEO of ReGelTec, Inc. a medical device company bringing an injectable polymer for Degenerative Disc Disease from Startup to commercialization.

He is also: 

• Director, Sonavex, Inc. A Baltimore-based medical device company originally spun out of Johns Hopkins, Sonavex has developed a portfolio of novel ultrasound solutions that empower patient care by delivering critical visual and quantitative data to improve outcomes and reduce costs. Their Echomark & EchoSure technologies were most recently named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024. 

• Member, Board of Directors, Secretome Therapeutics, Inc.  Developing a platform of first-in-class therapeutics derived from neonatal mesenchymal stem cells (nMSC) for the treatment of underserved diseases, Secretome’s lead product, STM-01, is in development for adult and pediatric forms of heart failure, and their pipeline includes novel secretomes for neurodegenerative and dermatological diseases.

• Board Chair, NeuroIntact. A medical device company headquartered in Baltimore, MD dedicated to revolutionizing patient care and outcomes by preserving neurological function. The company explains that, through their targeted temperature management (TTM), providers can manage elevated intracranial pressure or edemas with fewer side effects compared to whole-body cooling.

Prior to these roles, Niland co-founded Harpoon Medical, Inc. which he sold to Edwards Lifesciences for $250M ($100M upfront with $150M in potential milestones) in less than 5 years with only $6.5M of dilutive funding, generating an IRR >100% for investors.

Prior to Harpoon, Mr. Niland founded Vapotherm to commercialize High Flow respiratory therapy technology he invented. Vapotherm has treated over 3 Million patients, went public in 2018 (NYSE:VAPO) Vapotherm HighFlow therapy played an important role in keeping COVID-19 patients off a ventilator.

Mr. Niland also started a sleep diagnostic company in the early 90’s Sleep services of America and grew the largest sleep testing company in the U.S. before selling it to Vital Signs. He holds 35 patents, is an angel investor and sits on multiple medical device company boards.

Eric Edwards, MD, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Phlow

Dr. Eric Edwards is co-founder and chief executive officer of Phlow Corp., a pioneering public benefit pharmaceutical corporation. As CEO, Dr. Edwards has assembled a world-class team committed to providing a solution to the broken essential medicines supply chain and over-reliance on foreign manufacturers for our Nation’s highest priority medicines.

Dr. Edwards was previously co-founder of Kaléo, Inc., a pharmaceutical company in Richmond, VA. During his 16 year tenure, he held several executive management positions including Chief Science Officer where he was responsible for overall scientific strategy and all pharmaceutical development programs; Chief Medical Officer responsible for developing a medical affairs team and capability while operationalizing the Company’s clinical program strategy; and Vice President – Innovation, overseeing Kaleo’s research and development pipeline and overall new product strategy.

Dr. Edwards is the co-inventor of multiple marketed products, including AUVI-Q, epinephrine auto-injector for the treatment of allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis), is named on over 215 issued and patent-pending applications, and is a published author on numerous scientific publications.

Dr. Edwards also continues to serve his community by volunteering on a local rescue squad, including responding to 911 calls and training paramedics in pre-hospital emergency care.

Helen Sabzevari, PhD, President and CEO, Precigen

With more than 25 years of experience in immuno-oncology, Dr. Helen Sabzevari has extensive expertise in research and development as well as translating novel treatments from pre-clinical stage into the clinic. 

She has held executive leadership roles at Compass Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) prior to joining Precigen, where she now serves as President and CEO and board member. 

At Precigen, Dr. Sabzevari guides the company’s advanced cell and gene therapy programs, targeting the most urgent and intractable diseases in immuno-oncology, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases.

Dr. Sabzevari’s contributions in the field of tumor immunology have earned her numerous accolades to include the National Institutes of Health (NIH) merit award for major contribution to the field of cancer immunotherapy as well as the Mass High Tech’s Women to Watch Award, the PharmaVOICE 100 Award (2013 and 2022), PharmaVOICE 100 Red Jacket award (2023), and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Team Science Award for her work on the NCI Cancer Immunotherapy Program Team. 

Most recently, Dr. Sabzevari was recognized on the Forbes 50 over 50: The Visionary List, Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record and PM360’s Elite 100 in the Strategists category. Dr. Sabzevari received her doctorate degree in cell and molecular immunology and completed her postdoctoral work at the department of immunology at the Scripps Research Institute working on various immunotherapeutic modalities in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Raymond H. Cypess, DVM, PhD, Chairman, ATCC Board of Directors

Dr. Cypess served as ATCC’s CEO and Chairman with unwavering dedication for 31 years. After stepping down as CEO in 2025, he continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors, where his strategic insight will guide ATCC’s future.

As CEO, Dr. Cypess demonstrated a visionary approach, employing innovative and nontraditional strategies to manage ATCC’s unique nonprofit/for-profit corporate structure. His leadership redefined the organization’s financial foundation, ensuring its long-term viability, sustained growth, and enduring contributions to advancing credible science.

In his capacity as a researcher, Dr. Cypess has served as principal investigator on numerous grants and contracts, including the Malaria Research and Reference Reagent Resource Center (MR4) and the Biodefense and Emerging Infections Resources repository (BEI Resources) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Dr. Cypess joined ATCC from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, where he was dean of the College of Graduate Health Sciences, professor of microbiology, immunology and comparative medicine, and vice provost for research and research training. During his leadership there, he created two new academic service departments: Biomedical Engineering and Comparative Medicine. In addition, he developed centerwide core infrastructure units, led a successful strategy that significantly increased the research funding of the university, and was awarded the University of Tennessee Memphis College of Medicine Outstanding Teacher Award five years running (1989–1993). Earlier in his career, he was an associate professor of epidemiology and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and professor and chairman at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Cypess participated on the scientific review boards of NIAID, was part of various National Institutes of Health study sections, and served on several editorial boards. He is the author of more than 80 chapters, reviews and journal articles; a fellow in the Infectious Disease Society; and a member of the American Epidemiology Society. He has served on boards for the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ corporations and has been director and treasurer of the Virginia Biotechnology Authority.