Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation and Leadership

Thursday, February 5, 2026 | Hilton East Brunswick

Join us on February 5, 2026 for BioNJ’s Annual Dinner Meeting & Innovation Celebration where Dr. Sol J. Barer will present Dr. van de Winkel, President and CEO of Genmab, with the 2026 Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation and Leadership. 

Named for Dr. Sol J. Barer, Founder and former Chairman and CEO of Celgene Corporation and former BioNJ Chairman, the Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation and Leadership recognizes outstanding researchers and business leaders who have made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the life sciences industry in New Jersey and throughout the world.

“We are thrilled to announce Dr. Jan van de Winkel as the 2026 Dr. Sol J. Barer Award recipient,” said BioNJ President and CEO Debbie Hart. “His passion for Patients has been the driving force behind his work — fueling scientific breakthroughs that have changed countless lives and setting new standards for what is possible in biomedical innovation. Equally inspiring is his deep and enduring dedication to New Jersey, where he has championed growth, invested in talent and helped strengthen the State’s position as a global leader in life sciences. This award is a fitting tribute to a career defined by bold ideas and transformative impact.”

Dr. van de Winkel co-founded Genmab, an international biotechnology company with U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, grounded in a visionary idea: that antibodies could transform cancer treatment and profoundly impact Patients’ lives. Twenty-five years later, that vision has yielded multiple transformative therapies benefiting hundreds of thousands of Patients with cancer and other serious diseases. Genmab continues to expand its commercial portfolio of next-generation antibody medicines while advancing a robust pipeline of innovative investigational assets, including candidates that have recently earned regulatory designations for their potential to address significant unmet need.

He has long believed in the strength of New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem, a commitment reflected in Genmab’s sustained growth and presence in the State. Under Dr. van de Winkel’s leadership, the company’s New Jersey footprint grew from fewer than ten employees in 1999 to more than 1,000 by 2025, supported by two major expansions at the Princeton Forrestal Innovation Center and a commitment to add over 300 jobs to Middlesex County by 2026. 

“Dr. van de Winkel’s leadership embodies both vision and heart — driving scientific innovation while never losing sight of the Patients and communities who inspire it,” said Hart. “We look forward to Dr. Sol J. Barer personally presenting Dr. van de Winkel with this award on February 5 as we honor the extraordinary innovation emerging from the great State of New Jersey.”