Joel Harris

Joel Harris is an active member in Iowa’s biotech industry through both of his roles; CEO of Genvax Technologies and Executive Director of the Ag Startup Engine. As co-founder and CEO of Genvax Technologies, Joel is leading his team to develop mRNA + nanoparticle vaccines for livestock. The Genvax team is targeting multiple diseases, most notably swine influenza and the foreign animal disease African Swine Fever. This work requires unique and extensive collaborations that Joel has initiated with state and national leaders in the human and animal biotech space, government groups such as the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics and IEDA and supporting stakeholders like United Animal Health, Iowa Corn Growers Association and Johnsonville Ventures.

As Executive Director of the Ag Startup Engine, Joel is instrumental in supporting Iowa-based biotechnology companies. Biotechnology companies that Joel has led investments in are Leah Laboratories, Mazen Animal Health, GW Nutrition, Gross-Wen Technologies, Skroot Laboratories and Pyrone Systems. Joel has served on the boards of IowaBio and Mazen Animal Health. He and his father founded Harrisvaccines (a livestock vaccine company later acquired by Merck Animal Health) that still operates in the ISU Research Park today. During his tenure, Ag Startup Engine was presented with the LWBJ Impact Award for the 2021 Prometheus Awards. Joel is deeply involved in the biotechnology industry in Iowa and continues to bring talent, jobs, and new technologies to the state.