Dr. Marco A. Chacón is a well-known scientist who has done important work in the field of biotechnology. He has helped create new medicines and treatments that improve people’s health. Dr. Chacón also started several biotech companies and is known for his smart ideas and leadership.
His work has made a big difference in science and medicine. Here’s a complete biography of Dr. Marco A. Chacón, a famous biotech entrepreneur and philanthropist whose journey from Costa Rica to leading-edge innovation has inspired many.
Key Facts About Marco Chacon
● Education: B.Sc., Youngstown State; Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences, University of Maryland.
● Paragon Bioservices: Founder & Chairman, sold to Catalent for $1.2B in 2019.
● IRAZÚ Bio‑Holdings: Founder & President, translating academic biotech into therapeutics.
● Advisory Roles: UMB Industry Alliances; Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board; Breakthrough Center board.
● Philanthropy: Founder of Alicia & Yaya Foundation; support to education, STEM, and global fellowships.
● Scientific Vision: Aging biology, regeneration, gene therapy, and biotech innovation.
Who is Marco Chacon?
Dr. Marco A. Chacon, Phd, is the Founder and President of IRAZ BIO, a firm committed to early-stage technology development and bridging the uncertainty gap between academic research and medication development.
IRAZ is creating indications to increase survival, prevent illness, and improve quality of life in old age by leveraging unique biochemical processes revealed in hypoxia tolerant and neuroprotective phenotypes such as caloric restriction models, neonatal animals, and hibernators.
The business is also working on immuno-oncology and gene therapy technology. Chacon formerly worked as the University of Maryland Baltimore’s Assistant Vice President of Industry Alliances.
Marco currently serves on the University of Maryland Foundation’s Board of Trustees and was nominated to the Life Sciences Advisory Board by Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. in 2016. Dr. Chacon is also the founding head of the University of Maryland Graduate School’s Board of Visitors.
Early Life & Education
Marco A. Chacón, Ph.D., emigrated from Costa Rica to the U.S. at age 17 as an exchange student, financing his education by assisting pathologists in performing more than 2,500 autopsies.
Dr. Chacon did research on energy metabolism, oxygen balance, and tissue and organ regeneration. He also achieved a Bachelor of Science degree from Youngstown State University. In addition to that, he has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Maryland.
Paragon Bioservices
Chacon is also the founder and former Chairman of Paragon Bioservices, Inc. This organization is a contract development and GMP manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in the process development and GMP manufacture of viral vectors for gene therapy.
Catalent Pharma Solutions, a worldwide CMO, paid $1.2 billion for Paragon in May 2019. The Union Organization has over 2000 square feet of space across three Maryland locations. These locations include The University of Maryland BioPark, Anne Arundel County, and Gaithersburg. Right now, the joint firm is expected to have over a thousand workers by the first quarter of 2020.
What is Marco Chacon’s Relation with Maribel Guardia?
Marco Chacón is Maribel Guardia’s husband. They have been married since 2010. Recently celebrated 28 years together. The couple dated for approximately 13 years before marrying.
Maribel Guardia suffered from two losses in her life, one with her only son’s death, Julian Figueroahis. The other was her husband, Joan Sebastian.
After the death of her husband, Maribel had a good relationship with Marco, which turned into a strong marriage companionship later on. Marco had an extensive portfolio of knowledge and experience with his business law studies.
Besides being a dedicated lawyer, Marco was also Maribel’s legal representative since Maribel was a model and Chacón Fernández was a specialist in intellectual property plus entertainment laws. Hence, they were both in relation to being clients and legal consultants for a long time.
Marco was also responsible for protecting the copyright and signing license agreements for Maribel’s digital content use. The same goes for the musical exclusivity and theatrical presentation, which also includes his wife.
After being in a relationship while maintaining professional bounds, Marco and Maribel got married at San Cosme y Damián Parish. This place was San Rafael neighborhood situated in CDMX. Maribel, as a bride, was led to the altar by her only son, who passed away later on. On her wedding day, the model Maribel gave the following statement that speaks as proof that her son was present on her wedding day.
“My son Julián, who was 14 years old, delivered me in the church on my wedding day. Being on his arm will always be one of the greatest gifts God has given me. Definitely one of the happiest days of my life.”, he indicated in a post on social networks.”
It was also a great speculation that Marco Chacon never had any children, and it was not because of the devastating death of her son but because it was her husband’s (Marco’s) will. In a conversational YouTube interview with La Saga, Maribel Guardia revealed that she had a miscarriage of a child because of Marco’s will. According to the conversation, these were her exact words.
“I said (to Marco): ‘Do you want me to do a fertility treatment?'” indicating that he proposed to him on some occasion, but Chacón indicated that it was better not to do so. “No, do not do it. I already have Julián”, Marco replied in response to Maribel’s proposition.
Julian was Maribel’s 14-year-old son when he married Chacon, and he was confident that he would own him as his own son rather than have a biological child. This gesture shows that the family shared extreme values with each other when it came to bonding as a unit.
Marco Chacon Recognition & Awards
Marco is the recipient of the John Holaday BioHealth Leadership Award in 2021 for exceptional leadership and innovation in the biotech industry. The award highlighted his belief in hard work, mentorship, and giving back to the industry and community.
In recognition of their philanthropic work, Marco and Debbie Chacón received the 2020 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, honoring their support in education, biotech, and global health initiatives.
Philanthropy & Mentorship
Marco Chacon founded the Alicia & Yaya Foundation, which supports global fellowship programs that link the University of Maryland and Costa Rica institutions. It is advanced doctoral and postdoctoral training in global health innovation and research.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, their foundation funded student emergency relief, new STEM outreach facilities, and scholarship programs for UMB students.
Marco is also an inspiration for the next generation as he shares insights in a virtual lecture series for high school students, which highlights the biotech revolution and future careers in life sciences.
Conclusion
Marco Chacon led an interesting and very kind life off the screen. He worked as a genius philanthropist, a successful entrepreneur, and a great scholar. The knowledge and experience shared by Marco as a legal consultant and founder/CEO is truly inspiring for those who are just starting. Hopefully, this article has given you a broad idea about the lawyer’s personal and professional life.
People Also Ask
How Old is Marco Chacon?
Marco Chacón is 54 years old. He was born on November 30, 1970.
Where is Marco Chacon from?
Marco A. Chacón is from Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Who did Marco Chacon married to?
Marco Chacon is married to Maribel Guardia.