BIO Alabama CEO Headed to Oklahoma

September 14, 2022

BIO Alabama CEO Rachel Lane, PhD, RD steps down from the association at the end of September to transition her efforts to the Tulsa Innovation Labs Canopy Virtual HealthTech program in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Under Dr. Lane’s leadership, BIO Alabama and the state’s bioscience industry grew significantly, marked by the following key accomplishments:

• Annual Conference | This in-person, two-day meeting gathered over 200 statewide industry partners and featured leaders and speakers from across the US.
• Inaugural RALLY | This reverse-pitch event was supported by the AL Department of Commerce and connected local and national industry companies with Alabama academic institutions for collaboration.
• Workforce Development | This initiative in collaboration with the AL Department of Commerce and AIDT charts a path for upscaling Alabama’s bioscience workforce.
• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Tech Transfer Research (STTR) Award Workshops | The workshops are sponsored by the Innovation Corporation and connect innovators with federal agencies and information about nondilutive funding.
• Platforms | BIO Alabama’s advocacy on behalf of Alabama bioscience companies create opportunities for innovators to be showcased on regional, national, and international stages.

BIO Alabama held their first in-person conference in six years in April 2022.

“Dr. Lane applied her vision and knowledge to take our industry to new, innovative levels,” said Chairperson Kacee Sims, PhD, director of marketing and technical services at Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. “Losing her leadership is a disappointment, but I know she will continue to be an ambassador for us beyond our state’s lines.”

Dr. Lane expressed gratitude to the Alabama bioscience and innovation community, stating “We have made significant strides toward our vision for the industry, thanks to the collaborative, welcoming spirit of this community. There is still work to be done, and it must be done together. The Alabama spirit that fueled our progress these past two years will continue to propel momentum forward.”

Dr. Lane presents at the EDAA 2022 winter conference with panelists Vince Perez (AL Department of Commerce), Amy Sturdivant (58, Inc), and Blair King (Alabama Power).

The BIO Alabama executive committee is strategizing a transition plan to ensure the continuation of Alabama’s forward progress in the industry.

“BIO AL is a critical catalyst for our state’s industry,” stated Bill Dean, executive director of the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation and member of BIO AL’s executive committee. “We are evaluating Dr. Lane’s thoughtful transition plan and are committed to continuing the momentum we have gained over the last two years.”

BIO Alabama was founded in 1998 by industry leaders from across the state and is the state affiliate for BIO International. Bioscience companies in Alabama feed, fuel, and heal the world. BIO Alabama is committed to developing and fortifying the ecosystem that promotes the success of these companies by ensuring these companies have the intellectual property, people, space, capital, and business environment to complete their mission.

Learn more about BIO Alabama at bioalabama.com.