2027 Catalyst Award Nominations Open July 15, 2026

About the Catalyst Award

Merriam-Webster defines a catalyst as: “an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action.”

The inaugural 2023 WORLDSymposium “Be The Catalyst” encouraged all attendees to be catalysts and spark change.
In 2024, WORLDSymposium presented the first “Catalyst” award to Zachary Thomas, who was nominated in recognition of his efforts to instigate and expedite changes to newborn screening in Alabama.
In 2025, WORLDSymposium presented the second “Catalyst” award to Ryan Colburn, who was nominated in recognition of his efforts to instigate a shift in perspective for the prevalence of Pompe disease.
In 2026, WORLDSymposium presented the third “Catalyst” award to Professor Michael H. Gelb, who was nominated in recognition of his development of new assays for expanded Newborn Screening with a focus on lysosomal diseases.

Please join WORLDSymposium at the 2027 Be The Catalyst at 17:45 PST on January 31, 2027, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego in San Diego, CA, where the 2027 WORLDSymposium Catalyst Award will be presented. Plan to stay for the reception to reconnect with colleagues and make new connections!