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.