Cal State LA BioSpace honors regional bioscience leaders

Jill Adler-Moore, a renowned microbiologist and professor emerita at Cal Poly Pomona, received the LA BioStar Award from Cal State LA BioSpace in recognition of her years of research, leadership and mentorship. The award recognizes leaders who have made significant contributions that advance the bioscience industry.

Adler-Moore developed AmBisome, a life-saving drug that treats human fungal infections, and has mentored and trained students as a biological science faculty member at Cal Poly Pomona for more than four decades.

The LA BioStar Award was presented to Adler-Moore at the graduation ceremony for the fifth class of participants of Cal State LA BioStart, an intensive training program for emerging bioscience entrepreneurs.

“Jill Adler-Moore is a giant in her field,” said Jose A. Gomez, Cal State LA executive vice president and chair of Cal State LA BioSpace. “She has dedicated her career to research that has helped save lives and has mentored young scientists and entrepreneurs who are making a difference in the communities they serve.”

Previous LA BioStar Award recipients include Michael E. Jung, distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA, Cal State LA alumnus Willie Zuniga, president of Grifols Biologicals Inc., and Wendie Johnston, lab director for the Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator.

The BioStart program is part of Cal State LA BioSpace, which is leading the University’s efforts to foster a culture of inclusive entrepreneurship and promote the bioscience industry in the heart of Los Angeles. With investment from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the training is offered at no charge to eligible participants.

Cal State LA BioStart has trained more than 80 emerging entrepreneurs under the direction of Cal State LA Microbiology Professor Howard Xu, who oversees incubator development and programming for the University. Cal State LA BioSpace is being developed with investment from Los Angeles County and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

The initiative is also supported by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator, LA Bioscience Hub and the CSU.