On November 30th, Alianta continues its tradition of promoting achievements of individuals and organizations that strengthen the American-Romanian partnership by bringing together the people that inspire positive change through their work, and bolster the strong relationship between America and Romania. This year we are shining a special spotlight on the county of Dolj.

During the Gala we are excited to be honoring NuScale as our business awardee, Dr. Adrian Krainer, recipient of the Wolf Prize in Medicine will be awarded the Scientific Excellence Award.

Alianta will also posthumously honor US Rep. Jackie Walorski with the Alianta Humanitarian Award.

About Our Honorees

Business Innovation Award

NuScale

NuScale provides scalable advanced nuclear technology for the production of electricity, heat, and clean water to improve the quality of life for people around the world.

In November 2021, NuScale and Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica SA (SNN), a Romanian nuclear energy producer, signed a teaming agreement to advance the deployment of NuScale’s SMR technology.

The NuScale plant is estimated to generate 193 permanent power plant jobs, 1,500 construction jobs, 2,300 manufacturing jobs and help Romania avoid 4 million tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Scientific Excellence Award

Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D.

Dr. Krainer is the St. Giles Foundation Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Deputy Director of Research at the CSHL Cancer Center.

He was born in Uruguay to a Jewish family of Romanian descent, and is in the process of reclaiming Romanian citizenship based on his family heritage.

Krainer received the Wolf Prize in Medicine in 2021 and Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in 2019 for his contributions to the understanding of the RNA gene-splicing process and, in collaboration with fellow Prize Laureate Dr. Frank Bennet, the development of medical interventions that target the RNA-splicing process, including Spinraza, which is the first treatment for the genetic disorder Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Humanitarian Award

US Rep. Jackie Walorski

Jackie Walorski served as the U.S. representative for Indiana’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 until 2022.

Prior to that, she served in the Indiana House of Representatives, representing Indiana’s 21st district, from 2005 to 2010. Walorski won the seat in 2012, and was reelected four times.

Walorski moved to Romania in 2000 and founded Impact International, a foundation to provide medical supplies and attention to impoverished children.

Impact International helped provide basic needs, like funneling life-saving medical supplies for burn victims.

Walorski and her husband Dean Swihart worked as Christian missionaries in Romania until 2004.