Foundation-funded professor shares his vision for new groundbreaking biotech institute

In a recent interview, Mark Esser, the newly appointed Thomas A. Saunders III Family Jefferson Scholars Foundation Distinguished University Professor and inaugural director of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, shared his vision to transform Charlottesville into a hub for biotech innovation, likening it to a “Silicon Valley of biotech.” His leadership aims to accelerate translational research, foster industry partnerships, and position UVA at the forefront of biomedical discovery.