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.

Georgia Life Sciences Weighs In on PBM and 340B Policy

October 5, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences has submitted written comments to the Georgia House Study Committee on Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumers’ Access to Prescription Medications, encouraging greater transparency, accountability, and a focus on measurable patient benefit across the prescription drug system. The comments address both pharmacy benefit manager practices and the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, emphasizing the importance of understanding where prescription drug savings accrue and whether those savings ultimately benefit patients. The Study Committee continues its work this fall as it develops recommendations for the Georgia General Assembly. Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments →

Georgia Life Sciences Joins National Coalition Calling for PAHPA Reauthorization

September 22, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences (GLS) has joined more than 80 organizations from across industry, academia, public health and the biosecurity community in calling on congressional leaders to fully reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) before the end of 2026. Led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the coalition urged congressional leaders to advance a comprehensive reauthorization of PAHPA, the federal framework that supports the nation’s ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies and other health security threats. First enacted in 2006, PAHPA established and strengthened critical components of the nation’s health security infrastructure, including the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The law also supports public-private partnerships involved in the research, development, manufacturing and procurement of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. PAHPA’s authorization expired in 2023 and key provisions have since continued through short-term extensions. The coalition is calling for a comprehensive reauthorization that provides greater stability and ensures the nation’s preparedness infrastructure can continue adapting to emerging biological, infectious disease and other health security threats. For the life sciences industry, these programs are particularly important. Partnerships between government and industry can help move promising technologies from research through development and manufacturing while maintaining capabilities needed to respond quickly during an emergency. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), also a signatory to the letter, has identified several priorities for reauthorization, including continued authorization of BARDA, the Strategic National Stockpile, Project BioShield and the Pandemic Influenza Program, as well as incentives supporting the development of medical countermeasures. Georgia Life Sciences is proud to join organizations across the country in supporting a strong and sustainable national framework for health security, preparedness and biomedical innovation. Read the coalition letter and view the full list of signatories.

Georgia Life Sciences Urges Protection of Patient Access as Georgia Implements Medicaid Changes

September 14, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences has submitted comments to the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) regarding the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program and implementation of new federal Medicaid requirements. As Georgia prepares for these changes, Georgia Life Sciences is urging state leaders to prioritize continuity of care and minimize unnecessary administrative barriers that could delay or disrupt access to medically necessary treatment . This is particularly important for Georgians living with serious, chronic, rare, and medically complex conditions who may rely on ongoing medications, diagnostics, therapies, medical technologies, specialty care, and coordinated treatment plans. Even temporary disruptions in coverage can interrupt care and create additional challenges for patients and families. In its comments, Georgia Life Sciences encouraged DCH to protect continuity of coverage during eligibility and redetermination processes, provide patients and caregivers with clear and timely information, minimize unnecessary administrative burdens, and establish appropriate safeguards when a coverage disruption could interrupt an established course of treatment. “As Georgia implements these new federal requirements, we want to ensure that patients remain at the center of the process,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, MPH, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “Administrative changes should not become barriers between patients and the care they need. Protecting continuity of care is particularly important for Georgians managing serious and complex health conditions.” Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments to DCH here.
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