The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE) celebrated its annual Innovation Awards on October 11, 2024, recognizing outstanding innovators and entrepreneurial achievements. Anath Shalev, M.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center and founder of TIXiMED, was awarded the 2024 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, the institute’s highest honor. Shalev's start-up, TIXiMED, recently advanced toward clinical trials after receiving FDA clearance for its novel Type 1 diabetes treatment, TIX100.
Among other honorees was ReACT FND Health, founded by UAB’s Dr. Aaron Fobian, awarded Start-up of the Year for its pioneering work in treating functional neurological disorder in children. Southern Research’s Station 41 received Community Partner of the Year for its role as a biotech commercialization hub, currently supporting four UAB-based start-ups.
The Most Prolific Inventors award went to researchers who led in intellectual property development, including Maria Grant, M.D., Rubin Pillay, Ph.D., Steven Rothenberg, M.D., and Krishna Patel.
“These awardees represent UAB’s brightest minds and innovative spirit,” said Karen Bernard, Ph.D., senior licensing associate at the HIIE. “Through strong partnerships and community impact, their contributions lead the way for groundbreaking advancements.”
The HIIE also inducted seven new members into the UAB Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors, now in its third year. Inductees included esteemed faculty from UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine, School of Engineering, and College of Arts and Sciences, including Charles Elson, M.D., and Ashita Tolwani, M.D.
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