Synapse Announces 2019 Innovator Awards!

A pioneer and a prodigy from PEI’s bioscience business community are the inaugural winners of the Synapse Innovator Awards.

“There are world-class success stories that have stemmed directly from individuals with a past or present connection to UPEI,” says Synapse CEO Justin Moores. “As the University’s commercialization office, we have the pleasure of interacting with UPEI innovators every day. We created these awards as both our contribution to the University’s 50th anniversary celebrations and as a lasting legacy. Each year, through an open nomination process, our selection committee will continue recognizing and honouring outstanding individuals whose innovative efforts impact our quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of our society.”

Dr. Regis Duffy has been awarded the Distinguished Innovator Award in recognition of his lifetime of achievement including roles as the first dean of science for the University, the founder and president of Diagnostic Chemicals Limited, and first chairman of the PEI BioAlliance.

UPEI alumnus Mohammed Moin received the Inspiring Young Innovator Award in recognition of his achievements as the co-founder and CEO of Somru BioScience Inc. and his prior work with science-based technology companies Accreon and MAXIMUS Canada.

Duffy and Moin were surprised by the announcement that they were the award winners, which was made following their participation in a panel discussion also featuring UPEI alumna Erin McGrath-Gaudet, PEI’s provincial deputy minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture.

The awards presented to the winners were unique 3D-printed creations, designed and produced on campus at the UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering.