The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) Innovators to Know program recognizes excellence in innovation across Illinois annually. The IIN is comprised of 15 regional hubs. Each of these hubs nominates individuals, who have made key advances in research, technology commercialization, education, etc. to be considered for the award.
Dr. John Sedbrook, professor of genetics in the School of Biological Sciences at Illinois State University, was among eight innovators recognized in 2024. This group was recognized earlier this year during the total solar eclipse at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. You can watch a video of the recipients describing their work.
Sedbrook is an innovator focused on helping minimize the impacts fossil fuels have on the environment. His lab performs basic and translational research aimed at identifying molecular genetic mechanism exploits to improve crops as new bioenergy fuel sources. Both private industry and governmental partners are engaged in supporting the lab, and field trials are ongoing to bring the products of research to the marketplace.
Sedbrook has part of nine issued patents in the last two academic years. He is personally driven to combat the negative impacts of climate change by researching how plants can actively replace older methods of energy production.
This was the fourth year of the IIN Innovators to Know award. In 2023, Dr. Roy Magnuson, director of Emerging Technologies, Instruction, and Research in the Office of Technology Solutions (associate professor of Creative Technologies at the time of the award) at Illinois State, was awarded the IIN Innovator to Know award.
