Georgia Life Sciences Names 2025 Golden Helix Award Winners

Academic Innovators and Industry Leaders to be Honored at the Georgia Life Sciences Summit 

August 12, 2025 - The Georgia Life Sciences Golden Helix Awards celebrate excellence and achievement across Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem, recognizing the individuals, companies, and institutions making significant contributions to scientific discovery, health innovation, and economic growth in the state and beyond. 


This year’s winners will be honored at the welcome reception and awards ceremony on day one of the Georgia Life Sciences Summit, August 26-27 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.


We are pleased to announce this year’s slate of 2025 Golden Helix Award winners: 


PHOENIX AWARD: Boehringer-Ingelheim / University of Georgia  for the Sustainable Development Excellence Certificate Program 

This award, sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Chamber, celebrates an industry/academic collaboration, or other allied partnership, that demonstrate strength, tenacity, and leadership. Like the mythical phoenix, together they exemplify how strategic partnerships can accelerate discovery, fuel commercialization, and create meaningful impact for patients and communities. 


INNOVATION AWARD: Myomatrix

Presented to an institution, team, or individual whose innovation goes beyond the traditional paradigms and has the potential to significantly impact human health, agriculture, or environmental sustainability. Eligible innovations may include—but are not limited to—advancements in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, or life science-related AI and data platforms. 


DEAL OF THE YEAR AWARD: 

  • Andson Biotech (Private Financing), biotools company revolutionizing sample preparation for mass spectrometry workflows, for closing a $3.6M seed round led by industry veterans and expanding from three to ten employees while launching its DynaChip X1 platform into commercial markets. 
  • Micron Biomedical (Private Financing), for securing $16M to expand manufacturing of its needle-free vaccine delivery technology and advance multiple vaccine candidates toward commercialization.
  • Moonlight Therapeutics (Private Financing), or closing its first equity round, Series A, co-led by Portal Innovations, to advance its novel intradermal allergen immunotherapy platform for treating food allergies, beginning with MOON101 for peanut allergy.
  • Synaptrix (Private Financing), a medical device company developing the groundbreaking NOVABLOC™ system for drug-free postoperative pain management, for raising $13M in Series A funding led by Hatteras Venture Partners to support pivotal studies, regulatory submission, and commercialization.
  • ANI Pharmaceuticals (Acquisition) for its definitive agreement to acquire Alimera Sciences, for $453M, expanding its global footprint and portfolio to three commercial rare disease assets.
  • Stryker (Acquisition), for its definitive agreement to acquire Artelon, expanding its portfolio of soft tissue fixation solutions for orthopedic surgeons.
  • Duracell (Economic Development), for selecting Georgia as the site of its new North American R&D headquarters, further strengthening the state’s life sciences and advanced manufacturing ecosystem. 

Presented to a company or institution who has made the most significant transaction of the year (between January 1, 2024-March 31, 2025), a deal that exemplifies strategic vision, market influence, and long-term value creation. Whether it’s a transformative partnership, acquisition, licensing agreement, IPO, or major funding round, this deal represents a defining moment for the companies involved and a milestone for the state’s biotech ecosystem.  

 

COMMUNITY AWARD:

  • ARCS Foundation – Atlanta
  • Jeffrey Gray, Founder and CEO, AgeTech Atlanta
  • Christopher Kunney, Managing Partner and Digital Transformation Strategist, IOTech Consulting, LLC
  • Lisa Middleton, Ph.D., Director, Scientific Affairs, Georgia Cancer Center/Augusta University

Presented to a life sciences organization or individual that has demonstrated continuous commitment to making a positive, lasting impact on their local community. This award recognizes organizations/ individuals that go beyond their day-to-day operations through career development initiatives, outreach programs, patient advocacy, corporate philanthropy, or other significant community contribution.

 

EMERGING LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Benjamin Siciliano, PhD, Radyus Research 

Presented to an individual in the first decade of their career whose achievements are significantly contributing to or transforming the life sciences industry. 


TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Amanda Barrett, Marietta High School 

Presented to a Georgia biotechnology high school teacher who exhibits innovative teaching, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to inspire the next generation of thinkers, problem-solvers, and future leaders in STEM/ biotechnology.


LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD: Senator Chuck Hufstetler, 52nd District, Rome

Honors select legislators in recognition of their leadership in advancing federal and state policies to promote life sciences research, investment, and innovation. 


Winners are selected by the Golden Helix Awards Committee, a select group of leaders from Georgia’s life sciences, academic, and business communities who are responsible for identifying and recommending the most impactful individuals, companies, and organizations for recognition at the Golden Helix Awards. The committee reviews nominations across categories including scientific advancement, public policy, entrepreneurship, education, and community impact, aligning with the mission of the Golden Helix Awards to honor those whose ideas and achievements are leading the way in health and science.


To register for the summit, click here.

GLS 2025 Year in Review

December 22, 2025
Dear Georgia Life Sciences Community, As we reflect on the past year, I want to extend my sincere thanks to our Georgia Life Sciences members for making it such an impactful one. Your engagement and leadership continue to move our industry forward and advance our shared strategic priorities— driving strong policy, expanding the talent pipeline, and creating intentional spaces for collaboration across Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem. Our Year in Review captures the progress we’ve made together across these priorities and highlights the collective impact our members are having statewide—from strengthening the workforce and supporting manufacturing growth to elevating Georgia’s position as a national life sciences leader. This progress is only possible because of the collaboration, commitment, and insight of our member community. 

Investing in America’s Biopharmaceutical Infrastructure Strengthens the Economy and Supports Union Workers

By Maria Thacker Goethe • December 20, 2025
The biopharmaceutical industry is growing America’s manufacturing and R&D capabilities to develop the next generation of treatments. A recent study from PILMA quantified the impact of the industry’s investment in American infrastructure on the economy and union workforce across 18 states from 2019-2024. The study found that across the 18 states included, the biopharmaceutical industry: Supported the American economy by investing $86.5B in R&D and manufacturing infrastructure and developing 1000+ construction projects at over 700 distinct facilities. Strengthened the American workforce by generating $2.6B in skilled union wages and providing $19M in support for union apprenticeships. The impact of the biopharmaceutical industry’s investment in American manufacturing and union jobs extends beyond direct benefits, spurring additional economic activity in the communities where workers live. This is known as the multiplier effect . On average, every $1 of new investment in a U.S. biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities generates an additional $1.59 in further economic activity (2.59x times the initial investment value). The industry’s $86.5B investment in R&D and manufacturing infrastructure has a total economic impact of $224B. Check out this resource to learn more about how biopharmaceutical investment in American infrastructure supports America’s workers and communities. For more on how biopharmaceutical companies are investing in America’s future, visit innovation.org/america-investment .

Georgia Life Sciences Joins National Coalition Urging Congressional Action on Key Innovation Policies

December 10, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences has joined 43 state and regional life sciences organizations in signing a national Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) letter calling on Congress to take immediate action on three bipartisan policy priorities that are essential to sustaining U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation and supporting patients nationwide. With Congress back in session and several critical programs at risk of expiring, the letter urges congressional leaders to advance the following provisions without delay: 1. Reauthorize the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PPRV) Program The PPRV program has been instrumental in incentivizing the development of therapies for children with rare and life-threatening conditions. Its lapse threatens to slow or halt research that families across the country are counting on. 2. Extend the SBIR/STTR Programs The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide crucial early-stage capital for emerging biotech and medtech companies—many of them in Georgia. Without reauthorization, hundreds of innovative small businesses face uncertainty, jeopardizing new therapies, diagnostics, and technologies in the pipeline, 3. Advance PBM Transparency Reforms Greater transparency and accountability within pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices are needed to ensure that savings reach patients and employers. Reforming PBM operations is essential to strengthening access and affordability across the healthcare system. A Unified Message from the Life Sciences Community The sign-on letter reflects broad, bipartisan alignment across the national life sciences ecosystem: researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, patient advocates, and state associations all share a common message— these programs underpin America’s global competitiveness and are vital to patients who rely on continued scientific progress. Georgia Life Sciences has shared the letter with members of Georgia’s congressional delegation and will continue engaging with policymakers to emphasize the importance of swift action.
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