Yale Lifesciences Pitchfest 2020, presented by the Blavatnik Fund for Innovation at Yale, took place on Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th. The top 22 biotech opportunities developing within Yale presented their five-minute pitches to a panel of ten senior executives from biotech investment funds and pharmaceutical companies.
Four groups were then selected to receive the top cash prize awards in various categories. Of those, three recipients were YCC members. Joseph N. Contessa, MD, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic Radiology and of Pharmacology and Co-Leader of the Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Research Program received the award for Highest Potential Impact for his work in Developing Therapeutic OST Inhibitors. Most Innovative Breakthrough went to Ranjit Bindra, MD, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic Radiology, and W. Mark Saltzman, PhD, Goizueta Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and of Chemical Engineering, for their work in Redefining the Blood-brain Barrier.