Mary-Dell Chilton | Washington University in St. Louis Mary-Dell Chilton, Ph.D., is Distinguished Science Fellow and founder of Syngenta’s biotechnology research labs. While on faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, Chilton led a collaborative research study that produced the first transgenic (genetically engineered) plants. She has been called the Queen of Agrobacterium because she was the first to demonstrate the presence of a fragment of Agrobacterium Ti plasmid DNA in the nuclear DNA of crown gall tissue. In 2015, she was inducted into both the NIHF and the USDA Hall of Heroes. In 2013, she was named a World Food Prize Laureate. She is also the author of more than 100 scientific publications and holds seven U.S. patents. Chilton’s efforts pioneered the field of agricultural biotechnology and forever changed the way plant genetic research was conducted. She is recognized for her groundbreaking research and its continued impact on agriculture.
Diana S. Chow | University of Houston Diana S. Chow, Ph.D., is professor of pharmaceutics and director of the Institute for Drug Education and Research in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Houston. Chow is known for her work to develop innovative pharmaceutical formulations and drug delivery systems, especially that of Parental Busulfan which dramatically improves the clinical safety for transplants. She was named the 2009 Inventor of the Year by the Houston Intellectual Property Lawyers Association. She holds nine U.S. and two foreign patents, from three of which a pharmaceutical product was developed, approved by FDA and commercialized. She has published more than 50 articles and book chapters, and serves as editor of British Journal of Pharmacology, and editorial board member for Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy. Chow is a member of the NY Academy of Sciences, American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Clinical Pharmacology and American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.
Chung K. Chu | University of Georgia Chung K. Chu, Ph.D., is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia. Chu is a medicinal chemist who has been involved in the discovery of antiviral and anticancer agents for over 40 years. Specifically, he has worked on the antiviral agents for HIV, hepatitis B virus and shingles. During his academic career, he has discovered a number of clinical candidates for cancer and viral diseases. Two of his discoveries reached phase III clinical stages as potential anticancer and antiviral agents, one of which (Clevudine) is being used clinically to treat chronic hepatitis B virus infection in humans. Chu is the recipient of John A. Montgomery award and NIH Merit award. He holds 58 U.S. and numerous foreign patents of which several patents related to antiviral and anticancer agents have been licensed to several U.S. companies and a foreign country. He is a co-founder of Pharmasset and ATEA Pharmaceuticals. He published 315 peer-reviewed articles and edited four books. He is a member of editorial board of Nucelosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids. Chu is a fellow of AAAS.
Yoginder P. Chugh | Southern Illinois University Yoginder P. Chugh, Ph.D., is professor of mining and mineral resources engineering at Southern Illinois University. His notable research and intellectual property achievements are in the areas of mining ground control, coal mine dust control, and coal combustion byproducts management. Chugh has earned multiple awards including Outstanding Teacher in the Department, Professor of the Year Award from the National Stone Association, Invited Professorships in several countries, three Fulbright Fellowships, College Outstanding Scholar, and College Outstanding Faculty. He has won several national society SME-AIME awards including the Rock Mechanics, Howard N. Eavenson, Distinguished Member, Health and Safety Excellence, and Percy Nicholls. Chugh is also the recipient of the prestigious Old Timers Club Faculty Award. He has nine active U.S. patents and one pending for dust control around longwall shearer. Chugh holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in mining engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.
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