Martine Rothblatt

Dr. Martine Rothblatt is a lawyer, entrepreneur, author, pilot, and bioethicist whose career spans satellite communications, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and electric aviation. Rothblatt launched several communications satellite companies, including PanAmSat, WorldSpace, and Sirius Satellite Radio, pioneering advancements in global satellite radio and satellite-to-car broadcasting. She holds bachelor's, J.D., and M.B.A. degrees from UCLA, as well as a Ph.D. in medical ethics from the Royal London School of Medicine & Dentistry.

After her work in satellite communications, Rothblatt founded United Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for pulmonary hypertension and neuroblastoma. She has served as chairperson and chief executive officer of United Therapeutics since its inception. Under her leadership, the company funded and helped establish the Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, which achieved the first two transplants of genetically modified pig organs into living patients with terminal heart failure.

Rothblatt is the author of books including "Your Life or Mine" on organ transplantation, "The Apartheid of Sex" on gender freedom, and "Virtually Human" on cyberethics. She produced the film adaptation of Ray Kurzweil's book, "The Singularity Is Near." Rothblatt led the International Bar Association's project to draft a Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights for the United Nations, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. She is an inventor or co-inventor on 10 U.S. patents. Her innovations in aviation include designing and piloting the world's first electric helicopter to a Guinness World Record for speed, altitude, and flight duration.

Rothblatt publicly came out as transgender and is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, leading efforts to establish health law standards for the transgender community and to resist discriminatory legislation. Her personal journey informs her philosophy as a transhumanist, supporting the use of technology to address human limitations such as infertility, disease, and aging. She founded the Terasem Movement Foundation, which promotes extending human life through mind uploading and nanotechnologies.

Rothblatt's work has been recognized by the American Philosophical Society with the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences and by the National Academy of Engineering. She was named to Forbes' Innovator 250 List and received the Executive of the Year award from the IPO Education Foundation for her contributions to intellectual property. Rothblatt is a keynote speaker at events such as TED, SXSW, and university commencements, sharing insights on biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and the intersection of technology and ethics.