October 3, 2014 – President Obama today named Arthur D. Levinson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Calico, as one of eight recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and also named 10 recipients of the National Medal of Science. The two awards are the nation’s highest honors for achievement and leadership in advancing the fields of science and technology. The new awardees will receive their medals at a White House ceremony later this year.
Levinson, a molecular biologist, conducted pioneering work on the genetics and biochemistry of cancer, and helped lead the industry in the creation of personalized cancer therapeutics. He served as CEO of Genentech from 1995 to 2009. Levinson has authored or coauthored more than 80 scientific articles and has been a named inventor on 11 U.S. patents. He has received numerous awards, including the Irvington Institute’s Corporate Leadership Award in Science, the Corporate Leadership Award from the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award from the University of Washington, and Princeton University’s James Madison Medal for a distinguished career in scientific research and in biotechnology. In 2008 Levinson was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
“These scholars and innovators have expanded our understanding of the world, made invaluable contributions to their fields, and helped improve countless lives,” President Obama said in a press statement. “Our nation has been enriched by their achievements, and by all the scientists and technologists across America dedicated to discovery, inquiry, and invention.”
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was created by statute in 1980 and is administered for the White House by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Patent and Trademark Office.
About Calico
Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is a Google-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies to increase our knowledge of the biology that controls lifespan. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Visit www.calicolabs.com.