Since its inception, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has enjoyed immense success with rapid economic growth and groundbreaking strides in genomic and life science research.

Dr. Richard Meyers, HudsonAlpha’s new Chief Scientific Officer and President Emeritus

HudsonAlpha and its resident companies co-located on its biotech campus in Cummings Research Park have continued to expand their footprint in multiple sectors across the biosciences, including research, testing and medical labs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, and agricultural feedstock and chemicals.

The HudsonAlpha campus continues to expand as well, with new construction underway on a 13,000 square foot agricultural space and a 96,000 square foot global headquarters for resident associate company Discovery Life Sciences.

Momentum from this growth has driven the need for expansion of its executive team in order to intelligently manage the workload, maintain the Institute’s vision, and prime the organization for continued growth and success.

In order to address its needs, the Institute’s current President and Science Director Richard Myers, PhD will serve as HudsonAlpha’s new Chief Scientific Officer and President Emeritus, with current Vice President for Educational Outreach Neil Lamb, PhD taking the helm as the new President of the Institute on July 1, 2022.

The Institute is a global leader in using advanced genomic technologies to solve challenges related to human health and modern agriculture while simultaneously engaging and preparing tomorrow’s bioscience workforce. According to a recent study, HudsonAlpha has generated $3.2 billion in economic impact for the state of Alabama between 2006 and 2020, with an increase of $750 million between 2019 and 2020. The campus is home to over 1,100 employees and 48 associate life science companies.

HudsonAlpha’s newest President, Dr. Neil Lamb

According to Neil Hudson, HudsonAlpha co-founder and chairman of the board, Lamb was HudsonAlpha’s first hire, with Myers following soon after.

“They’ve been working as a team for the entire history of this Institute and we’ve accomplished great things as they’ve worked together,” said Hudson.

“Rick Myers and Neil Lamb have been critical to the success, innovation, and growth we’ve seen since Lonnie McMillian and I first launched HudsonAlpha,” Hudson stated. “With Neil’s vision and work ethic leading the organization along with the innovative research led by Rick, we are truly poised to amplify our work as HudsonAlpha’s reach and impact continue to grow.”

Dr. Myers came to HudsonAlpha from Stanford’s Human Genome Center, where he led a team that was a major contributor to the Human Genome Project, the international research effort that sequenced the entire human genome. HudsonAlpha researchers under Myers’s leadership apply genomic technology to uncover the causes of human diseases and to accelerate discoveries in plants and agriculture.

“At HudsonAlpha, our team is creating improvements for humankind everyday through research-based discoveries,” said Dr. Myers. “As we take our organization to the next level, it’s critical that we have the tools, resources, and team to continue advancing our research and applying our discoveries in the real world. It is this growth that drives my passion, gives me daily purpose, and excites me for our future. I truly believe the best is yet to come for HudsonAlpha.”

Dr. Neil Lamb came to HudsonAlpha in 2006 with a calling to share his passion for human genetics and biotechnology with others through education. He has led HudsonAlpha’s educational outreach team from conception, creating innovative teacher training and toolkits, student experiences, public enrichment, and digital resources that have reshaped the way that science is taught.

Throughout his tenure as Vice President for Educational Outreach, Dr. Lamb has been a public ambassador for HudsonAlpha and a strategic internal advisor helping guide the Institute’s growth. As its new President, he will drive the strategic vision and lead day-to-day operations for the entire organization.

“Rick Myers is not only a close friend and mentor, but the person who introduced me to Jim Hudson and co-founder Lonnie McMillian in the early days of HudsonAlpha,” said Dr. Lamb. “I would not be here if it weren’t for Rick. He has positioned HudsonAlpha for continued growth and success, and I share his vision and excitement for the possibilities of the future. This expansion of our executive team will allow us to focus more resources on our mission and expand our local, regional, and global impact for years to come.”

“The vision laid out by Jim and Lonnie of a place where genomics and economic development and education side by side make the world a better place, solve some of humanity’s most challenging problems–who wouldn’t love to be a part of that?” Dr. Lamb stated.

With this executive expansion, HudsonAlpha will be seeking a new Vice President for Educational Outreach. Find out more information in the coming days at www.hudsonalpha.org.

Watch the video announcement here.