Auburn vice president for research receives prestigious service award from American Heart Association

Auburn University’s recently appointed vice president for research, James Weyhenmeyer, has been named the recipient of the American Heart Association’s 2019 Morgan Stark Memorial Award.

The honor recognizes “an individual who has been an outstanding steward of AHA resources and leadership in the areas of human resources, finances or operations of the organization.” Weyhenmeyer will receive the award at a June 19 ceremony in Dallas.

“I feel privileged to receive the Morgan Stark Memorial Award from the American Heart Association. Morgan was passionate about his work as a financier and his commitment to changing the course of cardiovascular disease and stroke through his generous philanthropy and volunteerism with the AHA,” Weyhenmeyer said. “I was fortunate to meet him when we both served on the AHA’s Founders Affiliate board of directors and to have had the opportunity to learn from his extraordinary experience in the investment community. I am truly honored to receive this award that bears his name.”

Weyhenmeyer has served as president of the board of directors for the AHA Midwest Affiliate, president-elect of the Founders Affiliate and chair of the Greater Southeast Affiliate board, among other positions of service to the organization. In his role as Auburn’s vice president for research, Weyhenmeyer provides leadership to various research units, including sponsored programs, proposal services and faculty support, innovation advancement and commercialization, the Huntsville Research Center, research compliance, the university veterinarian, electronic research administration and the office of undergraduate research.

He was the founding managing director and CEO of Illinois VENTURES LLC, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on the development of technology-based companies. His area of investment expertise is in the life sciences sector, including therapeutics, diagnostics and medical devices. A serial entrepreneur, Weyhenmeyer has served in management positions for companies in the medical device, drug delivery and drug development sectors. He continues to serve as a scientific advisor for technology-based companies and a consultant for early-stage investment due diligence and business start-ups.

Weyhenmeyer currently serves on a number of public and private boards of directors and led an effort for the American Heart Association to launch a Science and Technology Accelerator Fund to reduce the time to market for groundbreaking discoveries impacting the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Weyhenmeyer has published widely in the areas of cardiovascular disease and stroke. His research has been funded by the AHA, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the PHARMA Foundation and private industry. He has received many awards and honors for his research, including the AHA’s Meritorious Achievement Award for research and service.

Read more about the award here: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/08/scientist-turned-venture-capitalist-has-the-right-blend-for-success