NYSCF Board Member & Former Interim CEO Derrick Rossi Appointed to National Academy of Engineering

This week, NYSCF Board member, former interim CEO, and NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Investigator Alumnus Derrick Rossi, PhD, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer, for his discoveries in stem cell biology and launching companies to translate them into health benefits.

Dr. Rossi, a biotechnology entrepreneur and stem cell scientist, is the co-founder of Moderna, and co-founder of Intellia Therapeutics, Magenta Therapeutics, and Stelexis Therapeutics. Until his retirement from academia, he was an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard University, and an investigator at Boston Children’s Hospital where he led an academic team working on stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He was among the first class of NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Investigators in 2010, an award he received for his pioneering work in modified mRNA that paved the way for his co-founding of Moderna Therapeutics and the era of mRNA vaccines. He later became a NYSCF Board member, and served as NYSCF Interim CEO from October 2022 – January 2024. 

NAE membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.”

“Being elected to the National Academy of Engineering is an honor, but an honor that comes with a service obligation,” said NAE President John L. Anderson. “As leading experts in their field, NAE members volunteer their time on initiatives that help guide the development of federal laws and regulations, improve the effectiveness of government programs, shape the direction of research fields and engineering education, and inform public knowledge and dialogue about issues of critical importance.”

“As a member of the National Academy of Engineering, these professionals belong to a select group of national and international peers who advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering.”

Congratulations, Dr. Rossi!