The SCbio 2025 Annual Conference in Charleston Feb. 18-20 will begin with John Crowley, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization(BIO), the world’s largest biotechnology advocacy organization. Every year, South Carolina’s largest life sciences event opens with a keynote to remind industry professionals of the impact of their work.
Crowley’s involvement with biotechnology began in 1998 when two of his children were diagnosed with Pompe disease—a severe and often fatal neuromuscular disorder. In his search for a cure, Crowley left his position at Bristol Myers Squibb and became an entrepreneur as the co-founder, president and CEO of Novazyme Pharmaceuticals, a biotech start-up conducting research on a new experimental treatment for Pompe disease, which he credits with saving his children’s lives.
Crowley and his family have been profiled numerous times on the front page of The Wall Street Journal and are the subjects of a book by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Geeta Anand, “The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million-And Bucked the Medical Establishment-In a Quest to Save His Children.” The 2010 major motion picture, Extraordinary Measures, starring Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford and Keri Russell, is inspired by the Crowley family’s journey. He is also the author of a personal memoir: “Chasing Miracles: The Crowley Family Journey of Strength, Hope, and Joy.”
Crowley served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 2005-2016 and is a veteran of the global war on terrorism, with service in Afghanistan. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School and a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
The Crowley family received the 2011 Family Exemplar Award from the University of Notre Dame. He is also a member of the University Council on Science and Technology at the institution and serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation. Crowley is the former national chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, served on the board of BioNJ and is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. In 2020, he delivered the commencement address for the University of Notre Dame’s graduating class and was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree, receiving honoris causa. In 2023, Crowley was inducted as a member of the Horatio Alger Association.
The SCbio Annual Conference stands as the premier life sciences event in the Southeast, where global leaders and industry experts exchange insights, form powerful connections and discover exciting new achievements from the fastest-growing economic sector in South Carolina. Additionally, SCbio will unveil its new initiative aimed at defining the core pillars of the state’s life sciences and medtech sectors to attract companies to the state—highlighting the organization’s commitment to fostering innovation and growth in these critical sectors.
Visit https://cvent.me/mB12w1 to register and view sponsorship opportunities for the SCbio Annual Conference.