The 8th Annual Daytime Beauty Awards (DBA), founded by Michele Elyzabeth, celebrated the best in science behind beauty, health and wellness on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 at the Grand Venue. The award ceremony luncheon recognizes excellence in medicine, health and fitness, aesthetics, skincare, color and styling, CBD and cannabis, beauty innovation, and more.
Denise Richards returned to the stage with former Medicine honoree Dr. Ben Talei to present The Innovation Award to Dr. Drew Taylor for Acorn Biolabs. Denise praised Dr. Talei, who did her facelift, and they both spoke about the incredible work of Dr. Taylor. Acorn Biolabs is a regenerative medicine company pioneering the collection, preservation and use of stem cells derived from hair follicles.
Dr. Drew Taylor is the founder and CEO of Acorn Biolabs and a pioneer in regenerative medicine. A former professional minor league pitcher for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, Taylor went on to earn a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto after studying Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan. His work bridges science, innovation and longevity, with a focus on unlocking the regenerative potential of a person’s own cells.
“The next major currency in healthcare will be your own cells,” says Taylor.
Founded in 2017, Acorn Biolabs is a regenerative medicine company pioneering the collection, preservation and use of stem cells derived from hair follicles. Through its proprietary technology, Acorn produces YOU™, the first fully autologous secretome powered by a patient’s own stem cells, making personalized regenerative applications for skin and hair possible today while preserving cellular resources that may support future medical therapies. Its research spans areas including skin and hair health, cartilage repair, organoid development and next-generation cell therapies.
