UCSD - University of California - San Diego

08/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/13/2026 16:21

Five UC San Diego Innovators Nominated for First UC Regents Innovation Awards

Published Date

August 13, 2026

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Five members of the University of California San Diego community are nominees for the inaugural UC Regents Innovation Awards, a new systemwide program recognizing groundbreaking research, entrepreneurship and contributions to the University of California's larger innovation ecosystem.

The awards were launched by the UC Board of Regents in November 2025, with each of the 10 UC campuses and three affiliated national laboratories able to advance one nominee in each category. The five categories include Gamechanger, Disruptive Research, Best Startup, Community Changemaker and Distinguished Lifetime Achievement. Each award recognizes UC inventors and entrepreneurs whose work moves ideas and discoveries beyond the university and into technologies, products and services that can improve lives.

"Recognition like this reminds us that the strength of the University of California is amplified when our campuses come together around a shared commitment to bold ideas and meaningful progress," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "For UC San Diego, it is an opportunity to honor the people who are pushing boundaries today while inspiring the next generation to imagine what is possible tomorrow. We are proud to celebrate all these wonderful nominees and to contribute to a UC community whose collective ingenuity can help shape a better future."

The nominations come as UC San Diego continues to play a significant role in the UC innovation ecosystem. According to the University of California's most recent 2024 Technology Commercialization Report, UC San Diego accounted for 27% of invention disclosures across the UC system, 25% of licenses issued and 33% of startups formed in 2024.

"UC San Diego's strength in innovation comes from our campus culture of collaboration and curiosity," said Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Corinne Peek-Asa. "Collectively, these researchers and innovators showcase the remarkable range of activity across our campus, from translating research into products with immediate market impact, to advancing transformative discoveries and technologies. These are examples of University of California research working to address critical societal needs. Congratulations to the finalists who are already winners. Their impact is both undeniable and far-reaching."

Among the nominees from across the UC system, five represent UC San Diego:

Ilkay Altintas

Gamechanger Award Nominee

Ilkay Altintas, chief data science officer at the San Diego Supercomputer Center and director of the Societal Computing and Innovation Lab, is nominated for the Gamechanger Award. The award recognizes a faculty member or researcher who has invented an impactful product that has been introduced to the market and translated into a technology, product or service with societal, economic or scientific impact.

Altintas has spent her career developing ways to make data and advanced computing useful beyond the research environment. Her work connects scientists, technologists and end users to build data-driven systems that can operate in the face of complex, rapidly changing conditions. That approach is exemplified by WIFIRE, which turns streams of data into real-time information that helps wildfire responders and researchers understand and respond to evolving fire conditions. Altintas' work demonstrates the potential of data science not simply to analyze problems, but to build the infrastructure needed to act on them.

Hear from Ilkay about what this recognition means.

Alysson Muotri

Disruptive Research Award Nominee

Alysson Muotri, professor of pediatrics and cellular and molecular medicine, is nominated for the Disruptive Research Award, which recognizes exceptionally novel, use-inspired research with the potential to generate technologies, products, or services that improve lives.

Muotri pioneered human brain organoids - three-dimensional models derived from human stem cells - and advanced them to more faithfully reproduce the cellular organization and functional complexity of the human brain. His research spans stem cell biology, neuroscience, and human evolution, including sending patient-derived brain organoids into space to reveal disease mechanisms difficult to capture on Earth. His technology is also being used to build novel forms of intelligence based on organic networks. Most notably, discoveries enabled by his organoid protocols have led to the first two ongoing clinical trials originating from human brain organoid research, translating this transformative platform into potential treatments for patients.

Take a closer look at Alysson's research.

Hybrid Reefs

Best Startup Award

Daniel Wangpraseurt, associate research scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is nominated for the Best Startup Award for his founding work with Hybrid Reefs. The award recognizes a faculty member or researcher who founded a new company using UC research to address societal needs.

Wangpraseurt is developing a new generation of technologies to help coral reefs survive and recover. Bringing together marine biology, engineering and materials science, his company is creating nature-inspired materials designed to accelerate coral growth, increase genetic diversity and help protect corals from bleaching. The approach aims to make reef restoration more effective and scalable while reducing the manual labor required. Following his recent recognition with UC San Diego's Chancellor's Innovation Award for Startup of the Year, Wangpraseurt is now nominated for the Best Startup Award.

Hear Daniel share why Hybrid Reefs matters.

Gene Lay

Community Changemaker Award

Gene Lay, founder, president and CEO of BioLegend and president and CEO of Laygend Foundation, is nominated for the Community Changemaker Award. The award recognizes a private sector leader or organization that has contributed significantly to social and economic prosperity by supporting UC's innovation enterprise.

Lay has built a career at the intersection of biotechnology, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. As the founder of BioLegend, Lay helped grow a San Diego biotechnology company focused on developing high-quality antibodies and reagents for biomedical research. However, his influence extends beyond the company he built. In 2022, he made a $25 million gift to UC San Diego's Department of Bioengineering in honor of his longtime mentor, Shu Chien, supporting research, education and the next generation of bioengineering leaders. In 2023, he received the Chancellor's Medal and Lifetime Legacy Award for his philanthropy and leadership in advancing the university's research and educational mission. His contributions reflect a longstanding dedication to advancing biomedical research and the people working to shape the future of human health.

Learn more about Gene and his work.

Jennifer Smith

Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award

Jennifer Smith, professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and director of the Marine Biology Research Division, is nominated for the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for a career spanning marine research, innovation and mentorship over the last three decades. The award recognizes a faculty member or researcher whose career includes multiple innovations that have had long-term positive impacts and who serves as an inspiration to aspiring UC inventors and entrepreneurs.

Smith's research has advanced coral conservation, reef restoration, sustainable seaweed cultivation, marine aquaculture and kelp forest restoration, while also exploring innovative approaches to reducing methane emissions from cattle production. She co-directs the Sustainable Seafood Initiative, which received a campus Convene and Influence Award in 2025 for its "seafood as a catalyst" program, and has helped connect marine science with entrepreneurship as an advisor to the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator since 2020. One of the largest lab groups at Scripps, the Smith Lab has also provided a training ground for scientists and innovators pursuing new approaches to ocean challenges. From restoring ecosystems to rethinking how we produce and consume food from the sea, Smith has built a career around finding new possibilities where marine science meets the complex demands of a changing planet.

Watch Jennifer Smith explain how technology is transforming coral reef research.

Up to three winners will be selected in each category. Winners of the Gamechanger, Disruptive Research and Best Startup awards will each receive a cash prize of at least $10,000. The Regents are scheduled to announce up to 15 winners on September 16.

Learn more about the UC Regents Innovation Awards.

Discover all the UC award nominees for 2026.

Explore innovation at UC San Diego.

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