CONNECT recognizes Drs. Magda Marquet and François Ferré, renowned San Diego innovators, at Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Award gala

CONNECT, a premier innovation company accelerator in San Diego that creates and scales great companies in the technology and life sciences sectors, announced on April 14, that in addition to the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Award, awarded to Magda Marquet and François Ferré, Dr. Diego Miralles, president of Adaptive Therapeutics, was the esteemed recipient of The Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Life Sciences, and Brad Feldmann, president and CEO of Cubic Corporation, was awarded The Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Technology. Each of these local visionaries has made significant contributions in their respective fields and have all contributed to elevating San Diego as a leader in the global innovation economy.

“We celebrate entrepreneurs that are committed to improving our world, starting right here in San Diego,” said Greg McKee, CEO of CONNECT. “The awards presented last night recognize entrepreneurs that not only have developed amazing products and started iconic companies, but who are committed to investing in the community around them and have innate drive to make the world a better place.”

Dr. Diego Miralles, president of Adaptive Therapeutics, was selected as this year’s recipient of the CONNECT Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Life Science Innovation. Miralles joined Johnson & Johnson’s Tibotec group in 2005 and helped develop several HIV fighting drugs. Upon moving to San Diego in 2008 to head J&J’s Janssen research and development site in La Jolla, Miralles founded the innovation leading JLABs startup accelerator the same year.

Brad Feldmann, president and Chief Executive Officer of Cubic Corporation, is this year’s recipient of the CONNECT Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Technology Innovation. Feldmann has contributed to the San Diego technology community and the advancement of technology around the globe by leading several major innovation initiatives such as the implementation of IdeaSpark and HALO Array.

Finally, the co-chairs of Althea Technologies, Drs. Magda Marquet, Ph.D, and François Ferré, Ph.D, were inducted as the fourteenth and fifteenth members of the CONNECT Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The husband and wife duo were honored for their extensive contributions within San Diego’s research, healthcare and entrepreneur industries.

An Innovation Showcase was also held prior to the event to spotlight the various companies and organizations that Magda and François support, including Althea, AltheaDx, Biomatrica, Independa, Jiyo, Mesa Verde Venture Partners, MD Revolution, Portable Genomics, Senté and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

320 people attended the annual signature event, held at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa.