NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eric Schadt, Ph.D., the Founder and CEO of Sema4, a patient-centered health intelligence company, has been named the 2020 BioCT Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Entrepreneur of the Year award was established by BioCT and the law firm of Shipman & Goodwin LLP to acknowledge the importance of showcasing unique accomplishments of entrepreneurs in the Connecticut community whose achievements are also having an impact beyond the borders of the state.
Under Dr. Schadt’s leadership, Sema4 is advancing healthcare through data-driven insights. The company uses advanced artificial intelligence approaches to build predictive models of human health to deliver personalized insights for patients in the areas of women’s health and precision oncology as well as more generalized genomic health screening and modeling across the spectrum of disease. This year, Sema4 also quickly established the capability to deliver large-scale and accurate COVID-19 testing, forming a partnership with the State of Connecticut to be a testing provider for residents.
Dr. Schadt has overseen substantial growth at Sema4. The company recently opened its second state state-of-the-art clinical laboratory in Connecticut. The new Stamford lab complements Sema4’s Branford lab, which was expanded earlier this year to meet greater demand. Sema4 now has over 500 employees in Connecticut across its two lab facilities, plus its headquarters in Stamford, a number that has quadrupled over the last three years.
Dr. Schadt "is one of the great biotech minds in the country," a colleague wrote in his recommendation for the BioCT Entrepreneur of the Year Award. "He has had a stellar career both in academia and in industry, as a true thought-leader in the fields of genomics, data sciences, personalized medicine, and in the digital transformation of health care." Furthermore, in the spirit of public service, during the current pandemic, "he has tirelessly stepped forward, bringing solutions that have helped stem the tide of cases, morbidity, and mortality that we have seen from this virus."
Dormer Stephen, a partner at Shipman & Goodwin, said: "Dr. Schadt exemplifies the best of Connecticut bioscience. We are proud to recognize him for his dedication and hard work. ”
Dawn Hocevar, President and CEO of BioCT, stated: “We received a record number of nominations this year. It reflects the growth of the industry as well as the stellar entrepreneurial talent that is leading our companies. It is an honor to recognize Dr. Schadt for his leadership and the success of Sema4. Thank you for choosing Connecticut and congratulations on the opening of your new lab in Stamford and all the work being done at your Branford location, as well."
Dr. Schadt said: “I am honored to receive this award from talented, exceptional leaders who are all dedicated to advancing the pursuit of science. It is particularly meaningful because BioCT is a such a strong advocate for the bioscience industry in Connecticut. This recognition is also a tribute to the entire team at Sema4 and our mission to advance healthcare through data-driven insights.”
The 2020 BioCT Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented at the BioCT Annual Bioscience Holiday Celebration & Networking Event, held virtually this year December 8.
About BioCT
BioCT is the bioscience industry voice for Connecticut, dedicated to growing a vibrant ecosystem by supporting innovation, collaboration, networking, education, talent engagement and advocacy. We bring together companies, institutions, entrepreneurs, investors, government, service providers, and other passionate, dedicated people, to build a thriving bioscience community to improve patients’ lives and public health, while driving economic growth. For more information, please visit the homepage of BioCT.
About Sema4
Sema4 is a patient-centered health intelligence company founded on the idea that more information, deeper analysis, and increased engagement will improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Sema4 is dedicated to transforming healthcare by building dynamic models of human health and defining optimal, individualized health trajectories, starting in the areas of reproductive health and oncology. Centrellis™, our innovative health intelligence platform, is enabling us to generate a more complete understanding of disease and wellness and to provide science-driven solutions to the most pressing medical needs. Sema4 believes that patients should be treated as partners, and that data should be shared for the benefit of all.
For more information, please visit sema4.com and connect with Sema4 on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.