Timothy Springer is the Latham Family Professor at Harvard Medical School and a billionaire biotech pioneer known for his foundational work in immunology. He discovered the first integrins and adhesion molecules (ICAMs), discoveries that led to blockbusters like Entyvio and Raptiva. A founding investor in Moderna, he famously turned a $5 million stake into billions, cementing his status as one of the world's wealthiest academics. In 2026, he continues to lead the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI), a legacy nonprofit he endowed with $210 million to advance open-source protein research. Recently, he was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and made headlines for his massive $61 million investment in Tectonic Therapeutic. Beyond science, he is an avid collector of gongshi (Chinese scholar's rocks).

Stephane Bancel is the CEO of Moderna, the biotechnology firm that gained global prominence for its pioneering use of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Since taking the helm in 2011, Bancel transitioned the company from a pre-clinical startup into a commercial powerhouse, most notably leading the rapid development and global distribution of one of the first COVID-19 vaccines. His leadership is characterized by an aggressive "platform" approach to drug development, aiming to treat everything from rare genetic diseases to cancer and respiratory viruses by turning human cells into drug factories. Under his tenure, Moderna has become a symbol of the genomic revolution, reshaping the pharmaceutical industry’s traditional R&D timelines.

Ronald Perelman, billionaire investor and corporate dealmaker, built his fortune through high-profile acquisitions and turnarounds across consumer goods, manufacturing, and media. As chairman of MacAndrews & Forbes, he assembled a vast portfolio of iconic brands, most notably through Revlon, while becoming one of the defining figures of the 1980s takeover era. Known for aggressive negotiation and opportunistic investing, Perelman has remained a powerful force in American business for decades. He is also a major philanthropist and prominent art collector, supporting medical research, education, and cultural institutions.

Robert Langer, MIT professor and biotech pioneer, is one of the most cited scientists in history and a foundational figure in modern drug delivery and biomedical engineering. His research breakthroughs enabled controlled-release medicines, advanced biomaterials, and novel therapeutic platforms that reshaped how drugs are formulated and delivered. Beyond academia, Langer has co-founded dozens of biotechnology companies, bridging lab innovation with real-world medical impact, including technologies central to next-generation vaccines and therapeutics. Known for rare scientific productivity and entrepreneurial reach, he has helped define the modern intersection of engineering, medicine, and commercialization.

Robert Duggan, biotech entrepreneur and investor, built his fortune by identifying overlooked medical assets and scaling them into blockbuster businesses. He is best known for leading Pharmacyclics as CEO and majority owner, turning the company into a major oncology success through the development of Imbruvica, before selling it to AbbVie in a multibillion-dollar deal. Known for bold conviction, aggressive capital deployment, and a willingness to bet heavily on scientific outcomes, Duggan has become one of the most successful dealmakers in modern biotechnology.

Randal J. Kirk, biotech entrepreneur and investor, built his fortune by creating and scaling life-sciences companies focused on drug development, specialty pharmaceuticals, and healthcare innovation. Best known as the founder of Intrexon and as the driving force behind multiple public biotech ventures, Kirk has pursued an aggressive strategy of acquiring scientific platforms, recruiting top research talent, and commercializing high-value therapies. His long-term influence spans pharmaceuticals, genetics, and medical technology, reflecting a rare ability to combine capital markets skill with scientific ambition.

Peter Gassner, cofounder and CEO of Veeva Systems, built one of the most successful vertical software companies by focusing exclusively on cloud solutions for the life sciences industry. After an early career at Salesforce, where he helped scale enterprise cloud adoption, Gassner launched Veeva in 2007 to serve pharmaceutical and biotech companies with regulated, mission-critical applications. Under his leadership, Veeva became a publicly traded, highly profitable software company known for deep industry specialization, long-term customer relationships, and disciplined execution. Gassner’s approach exemplifies the power of focus and vertical expertise in enterprise software.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, physician, biotech entrepreneur, and investor, built one of the most consequential careers at the intersection of medicine, science, and capital. After developing the cancer drug Abraxane, which he sold to Celgene in a multibillion-dollar deal, Soon-Shiong went on to found and back numerous life-sciences companies focused on immunotherapy, data-driven medicine, and personalized healthcare. Beyond biotech, he is the owner of the Los Angeles Times and has invested heavily in medical research, AI-enabled health systems, and pandemic preparedness. His work reflects a long-term ambition to reengineer healthcare around biology, data, and scalable innovation.

Osman Kibar, founder and CEO of Samara, is a biotech entrepreneur focused on regenerative medicine, aiming to restore organ function rather than manage disease. Trained as a materials scientist, Kibar launched Samara to develop therapies that activate the body’s innate repair mechanisms, starting with severe osteoarthritis. By combining developmental biology with advanced drug discovery, he has positioned the company at the frontier of tissue regeneration. Kibar’s work reflects a long-horizon approach to biotech innovation centered on curative science.

Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, is a leading biotech entrepreneur and venture creator known for inventing companies at the intersection of science and breakthrough innovation. Through Flagship, he has co-founded and incubated dozens of life-sciences companies, most notably Moderna, helping pioneer the mRNA platform that reshaped vaccine development and global public health. Trained as a chemical engineer, Afeyan combines deep scientific rigor with venture discipline, backing long-horizon technologies across biology, health, and sustainability. His work has made Flagship a cornerstone of modern biotech company creation.

Ming Hsieh, founder and executive chairman of Fulgent Genetics, built a leading precision diagnostics company by applying advanced automation, data systems, and scalable lab infrastructure to genetic testing. After decades as a successful entrepreneur in aerospace simulation software, Hsieh founded Fulgent in 2011 and guided it from a startup into a publicly traded genomics platform offering comprehensive clinical and diagnostic testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fulgent rapidly scaled nationwide testing capacity, demonstrating its operational agility and cementing its position in molecular diagnostics. Known for his engineering rigor and long-term vision, Hsieh has also emerged as a major philanthropist supporting education, medical research, and STEM initiatives.

John Oyler, cofounder and chairman of BeiGene, is one of the most prominent figures in global oncology drug development, helping build a multinational biopharmaceutical company centered on innovative, accessible cancer therapies. After successful ventures in medical technology and data analytics, he launched BeiGene in 2010 with a mission to integrate world-class research with large-scale clinical operations across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Under his leadership, the company has developed breakthrough cancer drugs, secured major partnerships with industry leaders like Novartis and Amgen, and scaled into a global enterprise listed on multiple exchanges. Known for his scientist–entrepreneur mindset, Oyler has reshaped how biotech innovation and commercialization connect across continents.