A Letter from GCMI Interim Executive Director Saylan Lukas – GCMI’s Continuing Commitment to Excellence in Medtech Innovation

Saylan Lukas headshot

Medtech and life science innovation is rigorous. It requires high levels of acumen and proficiency in multiple disciplines. It can also be immensely capital intensive.

Tiffany Wilson founded Atlanta’s Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) in 2012 to help medtech innovators de-risk their technologies, increasing their odds of successful commercialization and positive patient outcomes within a capital efficient pathway. The organization originated with support from the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, and an i6 Challenge Grant.

In 2016 GCMI, a Georgia Tech affiliate, acquired responsibility for T3 Labs – an industry leading preclinical CRO – making GCMI truly an end-to-end medtech innovation center. More than six years on, the institutions determined that demand for costly preclinical work, especially good laboratory practices (GLP) studies required by regulatory submissions, is driven too far downstream in the product development process for optimal operational efficiency. GCMI therefore chose to focus on core design and development pathways in a more concentrated fashion leading to the November 2023 sale of T3 Labs to Veranex.

No, GCMI has not been “taken private.”

GCMI’s Continuing Commitment to Excellence in Medtech Innovation

GCMI remains a non-profit affiliate of Georgia Tech. As we have for more than a decade, we help clinician innovators, start up companies, engineers and scientists with university supported technologies, industry partners, hospitals and health systems realize and commercialize new medical technologies. We maintain ISO 13485 compliant quality management systems and possess expertise in all relevant subject matter critical to successful medtech innovation and commercialization. That expertise includes the imperative clinician’s perspective via our Medical Director and pediatric urologist, Emily Blum, MD. We can also serve as manufacturer of record for novel medical technologies including those used in compassionate use provisions and investigational studies.

Saylan Lukas demonstrating with a prototype

Our work in support of Georgia’s life science innovation ecosystem specifically includes Hong Yeo’s flexible wireless stethoscope, multiple projects in collaboration with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Piedmont Healthcare physicians and clinical teams, NFant Labs, OXOS Medical and GloShield by Jackson Medical among others. GCMI also plays a pivotal role in the Center for Medtech Excellence (CMTE), which is focused on catalyzing the development and commercialization of breakthrough biotechnology, medical devices, life science and therapeutic innovations. Within CMTE, we have supported Dr. Noze Best and it’s NozeBot Baby Nasal Aspirator and Hub Hygiene’s easySCRUB device.

Georgia’s medtech innovation ecosystem has all of the assets needed for success with high quality of life and lower cost of living compared to locales like Boston and the Bay Area with more august reputations in the discipline. Our ecosystem of clinicians, hospitals, patients, universities, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, solutions providers and supporting state and municipal resources is robust. Atlanta specifically has additional biomarkers for medtech innovation like grant funding including the Georgia Research Alliance, startups spun out in the past, a mature funding ecosystem and patents issued. Our foundation is strong. Our growth potential is high and GCMI intends to actively foster that growth.

At the end of the day, GCMI is fully committed to successful medtech commercialization that improves outcomes. We welcome you to contact us at any point in a medical technology’s pathway from the ‘back of the napkin’ to the bench, manufacturing, bedside and beyond.

I invite you to take a moment to follow our new organizational profile on LinkedIn and take a look at our new web presence https://gcmiatl.org

Sincerely,

Saylan Lukas

Interim Executive Director, Global Center for Medical Innovation

Legal Experts Signal Continued Uncertainty for Life Sciences M&A

By Maria Thacker Goethe • October 22, 2025
“Evolving FTC and DOJ policies leave investors and innovators navigating a cautious M&A landscape

Georgia Life Sciences Launches New Podcast Series, Vitals, in Partnership with Cloudcast Media

October 6, 2025
Atlanta, GA — October 6 — Georgia Life Sciences today announced the launch of Vitals, a new podcast series developed in partnership with Cloudcast Media, a leader in branded podcast production. The series will spotlight the people, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Georgia’s rapidly growing life sciences sector. Hosted by Georgia Life Sciences’ CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe, Vitals will feature in-depth conversations with scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, policymakers, and patient advocates. Each episode will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem—spanning biopharma, medical technology, digital health, and advanced manufacturing. “Vitals gives us a powerful platform to showcase the remarkable work happening within our state,” said Maria Thacker Goethe. “By sharing these stories, we’re highlighting not only groundbreaking science but also the collaboration and talent that make Georgia such a vibrant hub for health innovation.” Cloudcast Media, known for its expertise in storytelling and high-quality podcast production, will bring industry insights and technical support to ensure the series reaches audiences across Georgia and beyond. “We’re proud to partner with Georgia Life Sciences on Vitals,” said Charles Parisi, Founder and CEO of Cloudcast. “This series will elevate the voices of innovators who are advancing science, improving patient outcomes, and building Georgia’s reputation as a global life sciences leader. We are very excited that Cloudcast Atlanta can play a role in supporting Maria and the impactful work of Georgia Life Sciences.” The first episode of Vitals launched today and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms, as well as through the Georgia Life Sciences website.

BIO Statement on Most Favored Nation Policies

October 1, 2025
September 30, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. – John F. Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement on Most Favored Nation policies: "For too many years, Americans have subsidized the research and development necessary to bring newer and better medicines to patients around the world. As we saw with defense spending and NATO, the solution is not to weaken a strategically important American industry, but for other countries to pay their fair share. “Today’s announcement in the Oval Office highlights the problems with a drug delivery system where half of the cost of innovative medicines goes to middlemen and distributors, and where the supply chain distorts prices paid by the American people. We support a new framework that addresses the cost of medicines by simplifying the system - and making medicines directly available to patients. “But importing socialist price controls through most-favored nation policies fundamentally does not address the imbalance in international pricing for innovative medicines. MFN will not lower the out-of-pocket prices that most Americans pay for medicines. Even worse, it will jeopardize the entrepreneurial spirit and deter the capital necessary for a vibrant and essential American biotechnology industry to thrive and may cause most harm to small and midsize biotech companies, which are responsible for discovering more than half of all new treatments. “Without these biotech innovators and a free-market system, we risk slower scientific progress, decreased access to new medicines, compromised national security, fewer American jobs and perhaps most tragically, a diminished hope for those suffering with illness and disease. There are much better ways to address this problem than MFN.” ###
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