For decades, Professor Emeritus Jeanne Loring, PhD, has been a pioneer in the field of stem cell research. In recognition of her many contributions to her field, the 2025 SynBioBeta Awards has honored Loring with its Industry Leader Award.

The SynBioBeta Awards celebrates scientists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders who are reshaping the field of synthetic biology. The awards will be featured during the Global Synthetic Bio Conference from May 6-8, where Loring will take part in a panel discussing brain connectomics, advanced brain-computer interfaces, neuromodulation and stem cell replacement.

Loring’s research has expanded the field of stem cell technology and the use of pluripotent stem cells, including for rescue of endangered species and for investigating the effects of space flight on the nervous system, with projects ranging from DNA sequencing to cell therapy. Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to become any of the cell types in the human body. She has published landmark papers on the first method for single cell RNA sequencing, the first single base pair map of the methylome of human cells, the first pluripotent stem cells from an endangered species, and the widely used assay for pluripotency, PluriTest®.

Loring founded Arcos BioScience in 1998, now part of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and the San Diego-based biotechnology company Aspen Neuroscience Inc. in 2018, where she has led the development of a personalized stem cell-derived dopamine neuron replacement therapy for Parkinson’s disease. She has also been involved with studies on stem cell-based therapies for multiple sclerosis and autism, neurodegeneration on the International Space Station, and in collaboration with the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research to harness stem cell technology in an effort to save the Northern white rhinoceros.