Golden Helix Awards

The Georgia Life Sciences Golden Helix Awards celebrate the incredible leaders and companies in the life sciences industry for their contributions in Georgia.

2025 Categories & 2024 Awardees

  • Legislator of the Year Award

    Presented to state legislators for their support of the life sciences industry in Georgia. 


    2024 Awardee:

    The Honorable Mark Newton M.D., Georgia House of Representatives

  • Phoenix Award

    The Phoenix award represents the iconic "rising from the ashes" of the Phoenix, a symbol of strength, tenacity and leadership and is presented to celebrate the best Industry and Academic collaborations, outstanding healthcare professionals and systems, or other partnerships that drive translation and lead to new treatments and cures. This award is sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Chamber.  


    2024 Awardee:

    Wellstar MCG Health

  • Deals of the Year Awards

    Presented to one or more companies or institutions for the most significant financial or commercial transactions closed from January 1, 2022-December 31, 2022, based on the importance of the transaction to Georgia’s life sciences industry.  


     

    2024 Awardees:

    Acquisitions  

    • Veranex completes acquisition of T3 Labs
    • Werfen completes acquisition of Immucor, Inc.

    Economic Development

    • Meissner

     

    Private Financing 

    • Dalan Animal Health
    • Inhibikase Therapeutics
    • Micron Biomedical

     

    Public Financing 

    • Emory, Georgia Tech & Children’s Healthcare land major NIH grant for diagnostics

  • Community Awards

    Presented to a small number of individuals, companies or institutions whose contributions to Georgia’s life sciences community are worthy of special recognition.  


    2024 Awardees:

    • Emily Blum, Global Center for Medical Innovation
    • Ashley Cornelison, Portal Innovations
    • Betty Pace, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University
    • Connor Seabrook, Georgia Research Alliance
    • The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) New Atlanta Regional Office

  • Innovation Awards

    Presented to the department, institution, company or individuals who are forging new ground by thinking outside traditional paradigms to create some unique technology. 


    2024 Awardees:

    • Tom Barrows, ProgenaCare Global - ProgenaMatrix®
    • Jack Huang, University of Georgia - DE-FLUORO

  • Emerging Leader of the Year Award

    Presented to young individuals who have made a significant impact on the life sciences industry through their studies or employment. 


    2024 Awardee:

    Eddie Lai, Metro Atlanta Chamber

  • Teacher of the Year Award

     Presented to a Georgia biotechnology high school teacher who exhibits excellence in STEM teaching and support for the biotechnology pathway.  


    2024 Awardee:

    Emily Gunderson, Empower College and Career Center, Jackson County

View Past Winners

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award

2024 Awardee: H. Lee Heron, DVM

Lee Herron, who will long be remembered as a pillar and irreplaceable leader in the industry, retired from the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) in the spring of 2024 after a 16-year career with the Alliance, most recently, Lee led GRA’s agricultural technology programs including the Greater Yield initiative. He directed its award-winning venture development program for 15 years, which helped to launch 200+ university-based companies that attracted more than $2 billion in equity investment. A seasoned executive, Lee harnessed his 20 years of entrepreneurial experience to help startups develop sound business strategies. Lee served in many community leadership capacities, including board positions for Georgia Bio and Southeast Life Sciences, the Global Center for Medical Innovation’s Industry Advisory Board, the Biolocity Oversight Committee, and the NSF Center for Cell Manufacturing Technology’s Commercialization Advisory Board.


“Lee was a true visionary whose passion and integrity touched everyone he met," says Georgia Life Sciences President and CEO, Maria Thacker-Goethe. “His unwavering commitment to innovation and his profound impact on the life sciences industry will be felt for generations to come. We are honored to present him with this award posthumously.”


“The Georgia Research Alliance would not be what it is today without Lee Herron,” says GRA President and CEO Tim Denning, PhD. “Lee helped shape our program that moves university inventions to the marketplace — a program that he led and grew for 16 years. Countless technologies are at work in the world today, benefiting companies and consumers alike, because of Lee’s wisdom, guidance, and desire to make a difference.”


Prior to joining GRA, Lee managed the biosciences division of Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) and founded four biosciences companies: SeaLite Sciences Inc., Biopool International Inc., CytRx Corporation, and Theragenics Corporation. Herron received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia and completed an internship at Cornell University. He also studied experimental pathology at Emory University.


Lee passed away on July 12, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. He was a devout family man, husband to Rita Herron for 50 years, father to three children, and grandfather to eight children. He leaves behind a profound legacy and will be remembered by his friends and colleagues as a dear friend.

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