PHILADELPHIA, PA (July 16, 2026) – The Science Center will honor four visionary leaders for their efforts in advancing the region's innovation and STEM ecosystem at the 2026 Nucleus Awards, presented by CSL. The honorees have shown transformative leadership in commercializing promising technology, allocating capital, convening the community, and cultivating a STEM workforce.
The Nucleus Awards bring together the region's innovation ecosystem to recognize the individuals driving real-world impact and economic growth. Hosted by Maiken Scott from WHYY's The Pulse, the celebration takes place on September 29th at 3675 Market Street in Philadelphia.
2026 Nucleus Awards Honorees
Commercialization Award: David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, Co-Founder and President, Every Cure
Sponsored by Wexford Science + Technology and Ventas
David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, is Co-Founder & President of Every Cure and one of the youngest faculty members ever to receive tenure at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. A physician-scientist and patient battling a deadly disease, he discovered and repurposed a treatment that saved his own life—a story he chronicled in his national bestselling memoir ‘Chasing My Cure‘, which is being adapted into a film by Forrest Gump producer Wendy Finerman. Dr. Fajgenbaum has since advanced 13 more repurposed treatments for cancers and rare diseases and co-founded Every Cure to unlock more hidden cures from existing medicines. Every Cure has received over $100M from ARPA-H and TED’s Audacious Project. He has been profiled by The New York Times, Good Morning America, TODAY, and Forbes 30 Under 30 and honored with awards including the Atlas Award alongside then VP Joe Biden, Philadelphia Citizen of the Year Award, and named to the 2025 TIME100 Health list of the world’s most influential people in health. Dr. Fajgenbaum earned a BS from Georgetown University, MSc from the University of Oxford, MD from the University of Pennsylvania, and MBA from Wharton. Read full bio.
Capital Award: Greg Howard, General Partner, Quorum Capital Partners
Sponsored by TriState Capital
Greg Howard is a Founder & General Partner at Quorum Capital Partners, a VC firm where Limited Partners aren’t so limited. Greg leads investments in startups building frontier technologies and novel data advantages across computing, health, energy, and aerospace. Before Quorum, he launched an angel investment syndicate, a mental health research startup, a data consultancy, the business performance and growth teams at a 10x scale up, and an aerospace pitch competition. Greg studied Science, Technology & Society at Penn and earned his M.S. in Computer Science at Northeastern’s Roux Institute. Read full bio.
Convener Award: Rebecca L. Grant, DVM, Senior Director of Life Sciences and Innovation, City of Philadelphia's Department of Commerce
Sponsored by KPMG
Dr. Rebecca L. Grant is the Senior Director of Life Sciences and Innovation for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce, where she leads initiatives that strengthen the region’s life sciences ecosystem and drive innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Tuskegee University before beginning her career as a small animal physician in Knoxville, Tennessee. She later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Laboratory Animal Medicine at the R W Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute (Johnson & Johnson) and went on to spend nearly 14 years at the University of Pennsylvania as Director of the Nonhuman Primate Research Program in Dr Jim Wilson’s Gene Therapy Program. Read full bio.
Cultivator Award: Cait Garozzo, Executive Director, The Skills Initiative
Sponsored by Verizon
Cait Garozzo is Executive Director of The Skills Initiative, an employer-led workforce intermediary that connects job seekers to quality careers while helping employers solve critical talent needs. The Skills Initiative does this through three integrated service lines: direct workforce programs that prepare and place talent into quality jobs, industry partnerships that align employers around shared workforce challenges, and place-based workforce strategies that connect talent development to broader economic development goals. Cait also leads national efforts to scale employer-driven workforce models through partnerships with cities and regions across the country, helping communities build stronger connections between economic growth and opportunity. Read full bio.
"Behind every breakthrough is a decision to act with intention. Our 2026 Nucleus honorees embody that principle — advancing commercialization, convening communities, investing in potential, and cultivating the STEM leaders of tomorrow. Their work reflects what the Science Center stands for: translating ideas into real-world impact. We're proud to celebrate David, Greg, Cait, and Rebecca, whose leadership strengthens the foundation our ecosystem is built on."
"Behind every breakthrough is a decision to act with intention. Our 2026 Nucleus honorees embody that principle — advancing commercialization, convening communities, investing in potential, and cultivating the STEM leaders of tomorrow," said Kerry Benson, Science Center Interim President & CEO. "Their work reflects what the Science Center stands for: translating ideas into real-world impact. We're proud to celebrate David, Greg, Cait, and Rebecca, whose leadership strengthens the foundation our ecosystem is built on."
"Scientific progress depends on collaboration. By bringing together innovators, investors, and leaders from across the regional life sciences and supporting ecosystem, the Science Center helps create the conditions for new ideas to advance and deliver meaningful impact," said Bill Mezzanotte, M.D., Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, CSL. "The Nucleus Awards highlight the people and organizations helping drive that progress, and we are honored to support the Science Center in celebrating this year's outstanding honorees."
Funds raised through Nucleus Awards help sustain Science Center activities, which in 2025 alone supported the growth of 90 startups and engaged over 300 students through immersive STEM education.
For more information about the Nucleus Awards, honorees, and how to purchase tickets, visit sciencecenter.org/nucleus-awards.
About the Science Center
The Science Center is a premier catalyst of entrepreneurial activity, healthcare innovation, and economic growth. Recognized by The Brookings Institution as a top-tier investor, mentor, and economic development partner, the Science Center has supported hundreds of early- and growth-stage companies, driving a combined $7.8B in annual economic impact in Greater Philadelphia alone. Today, the organization works across the globe to accelerate the translation of health innovations into real-world solutions, while delivering nationally recognized STEM education to Philadelphia youth. For more information, visit sciencecenter.org.
