double helix medal double helix medal the double helix medal has been awarded annually since 2006 by cold spring harbor laboratory (cshl) to individuals who have positively impacted human health by raising awareness and funds for biomedical research. at the inaugural dinner, muhammad ali received the first double helix medal for his fight against parkinson's disease. other notable recipients include founders of autism speaks suzanne and bob wright; former paramount pictures head sherry lansing who produced the stand up to cancer telethon; evelyn lauder who founded the breast cancer research foundation; hank greenberg of the starr foundation, which is one of the largest supporters of scientific research; marilyn and jim simons, the world's largest individual supporters of autism research; david h. koch who has donated over $300 million to biomedical research; and prominent scientists and nobel laureates. double helix medalawarded forindividuals who have positively impacted human health by raising awareness and funds for biomedical researchcountryunited statespresented bycold spring harbor laboratoryfirst awarded2006websitewww.cshl.edu/giving/double-helix-medals-dinner the double helix medal is named for the iconic structure of the dna molecule, discovered by james d. watson, francis crick, maurice wilkins, and rosalind franklin. the study of dna is central to biological research, and is at the heart of work at cshl. the annual new york city gala at which the medals are awarded was sparked by philanthropist cathy cyphers soref, an honorary director of the cold spring harbor laboratory association. medal recipients 2022: albert bourla, ph.d. jennifer doudna, ph.d. 2021: reggie jackson leonard s. schleifer, m.d., ph.d. george d. yancopoulos, m.d., ph.d. 2020: 2019: boomer esiason nancy wexler, ph.d. 2018:/ priscilla chan and mark zuckerberg larry norton, m.d. 2017: tom brokaw helen & charles dolan 2016: alan alda p. roy vagelos 2015: david botstein katie couric anne wojcicki 2014: andrew solomon matthew meselson marlo thomas november 4, 2013: peter neufeld robin roberts barry c. scheck november 28, 2012: michael j. fox arthur d. levinson mary d. lindsay november 15, 2011: kareem abdul-jabbar temple grandin harold e. varmus november 9, 2010: mary-claire king evelyn lauder john f. nash, jr. november 10, 2009: herbert w. boyer stanley n. cohen kathryn w. davis maurice greenberg november 6, 2008: sherry lansing marilyn and james simons james d. watson j. craig venter november 8, 2007: david koch michael wigler richard axel november 9, 2006: muhammad ali suzanne wright bob wright phillip sharp