Illinois Life Sciences Community Celebrates Innovation at the 2025 iCON Awards

The Illinois life sciences community gathered last Thursday evening at The Salt Shed's Three Top Lounge for the 2025 iBIO iCON Awards. The event brought together researchers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, educators, and community partners for a night focused on recognizing achievement and strengthening relationships across the ecosystem.

Attendees filled the venue, catching up with colleagues and celebrating the honorees whose work is shaping the future of life sciences in Illinois. The atmosphere reflected the energy and growth happening across the region - not just in labs or boardrooms, but across the community itself.

This year's honorees represent the broad spectrum of innovation that defines Illinois: visionary leadership, translational research, entrepreneurial execution, and public service that improves access to care.

• Timothy P. Walbert, former Chairman, President & CEO of Horizon Therapeutics, received the Civic iCON Award for his economic impact and leadership in building infrastructure that supports other companies and entrepreneurs.

• The Innovator iCON Award went to Bradley Merrill, PhD, Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and Co-Founder of Syntax Bio, for advancing CRISPR-based synthetic biology and stem cell engineering.

• Harry D. Rowland, PhD, Co-Founder and former CEO of Endotronix, received the Entrepreneur iCON Award for taking breakthrough cardiac monitoring technology from concept to FDA approval.

• Illinois State Senator Adrianne Johnsonwas honored with the Patient Advocate Award for her commitment to increasing access and championing patient-centered care.

• Portal Innovations, accepted by Founder John Flavin, received the Community Impact Award for building a platform that grows early-stage companies and expands the region's innovation capacity.

During the program, iBIO President and CEO John Conrademphasized why the celebration matters:

"Now more than ever, it's important that we come together and celebrate. Tonight wasn't just about recognizing success - it was about recognizing leaders who are transforming our ecosystem and making Illinois a destination for life sciences innovation." - John Conrad, President & CEO, iBIO

While the evening spotlighted today's leaders, it also supported the workforce of tomorrow. Proceeds from the event fund iBIO's statewide STEM education initiatives, including after-school programming, the STEMgirls Camp for middle school girls in underserved communities, and LabShare - a program that redistributes working lab equipment from companies to Illinois schools and early-stage labs.

The event was made possible through generous industry support. iBIO extends a special thank you to Takeda, the lead sponsor of this year's celebration, and to supporting sponsors Perkins Coie, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP, Avantor, BIO, Regeneron, Vertex, Immedica, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Syntax Bio.

The 2025 iCON Awards underscored the strength of Illinois' life sciences ecosystem - collaborative, innovative, and driven by people committed not only to discovering breakthrough science, but to building opportunity for others.