Two College of Veterinary Medicine units were recently honored at Georgia Bio’s Golden Helix Awards and Annual Gala in Atlanta. The Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) was awarded a Community Award and the Center for Vaccines and Immunology (CVI) received a Deal of the Year Award.
The Community Awards are presented to a small number of individuals, companies, or institutions who have made contributions to the state’s life sciences community. The PDRC is one of five winners to receive this special recognition. The US poultry industry has an economic impact of over $495 billion, with about 10 percent of this impact stemming from Georgia poultry production. The PDRC serves the poultry industry in Georgia and around the world through diagnostic service, education, and research.
The Deal of the Year Awards are presented to companies or institutions for the most significant financial or commercial transactions closed between Nov. 1, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2019, based on the importance of the transaction to Georgia’s life sciences industry. The CVI was given the award in the public financing category for their receipt of a $130 million National Institutes of Health contract establishing the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Center (CIVIC). CVM faculty member and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar of Infectious Disease Ted Ross will lead the center and collaborate with teams from 14 other universities and research institutes to create and test new vaccines that may one day replace seasonal vaccines administered every year during flu season.
“I am proud of both the PDRC and CVI for these accomplishments,” said Lisa K. Nolan, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Both of these units make significant impacts on the state of Georgia, and the world, with the work that they do on a daily basis. It’s gratifying to see them honored for all of their dedication and hard work.”
The awards will be presented at the Golden Helix Awards and Annual Gala at Factory Atlanta on March 13th. For a full list of award winners, read Georgia Bio’s full release.
