2025 Georgia Life Sciences Summit Poster Session Winners

Celebrating the Next Generation of Scientific Breakthroughs in Georgia

At the 2025 Georgia Life Sciences Summit, we proudly hosted the annual Scientific Poster Session, showcasing cutting-edge research from students, academic innovators, and industry leaders across our state. The session continues to honor the legacy of Dr. Anthony Shuker, a visionary scientist and mentor who championed early-stage innovation in life sciences.


This year’s winners exemplify the creativity, rigor, and impact that Georgia’s life sciences community is bringing to patients, science, and industry:


🏆 1st Prize – Academic
 Casandra Slocum, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
The Effect of Butyrate on Short-Term Memory in C. elegans


🥈 2nd Prize – Academic
 Arpita Shome, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Surface Engineering ‘Liquid-Like’ Solid Surfaces with Endothelium Mimicking Bioactivity to Combat Biofouling


🏅 Industry Award
 Kiki Diorgu, Saol Therapeutics
Development of SL1002 (Phenol-Cyclodextrin Complex) for the Treatment of Spasticity


🏅 Rick Hillstead Medical Device Award
 Amritha Harikumar, Georgia State University | TReNDS Center
Classifying Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Individuals via Whole Brain SPECT Functional Connectivity

We congratulate all of this year’s winners and participants for their outstanding contributions to scientific discovery and innovation. Your work reflects the strength and promise of Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem—and inspires us all to keep pushing boundaries in research and patient impact.


📸 Photos from the Summit are available online here.

StandTogether | Georgia Life Sciences Institute - EPIC

January 14, 2026
What happens when students see real work before choosing a future 

America's Biotech Leadership Depends on the States

By Maria Thacker Goethe • January 8, 2026
By: Patrick Plues | RealClearHealth January 8, 2026 For decades, America has led the global biotech industry – thanks, in part, to state-level policies that encourage research and manufacturing investments. But other countries, including China, are sparing no expense in the bid to overtake us. Beijing has officially made biotechnology a national strategic priority and is pouring billions into state-backed research and manufacturing efforts. All states should consider impactful biotech policies that grow and strengthen our domestic biotechnology industry. If states fail to utilize and replicate what are considered to be the best and most successful policies in biotech-focused economic development, the United States will soon lose its long-term leadership in developing medicines and medical technologies, which underpin our health, our economy, and our national security. Thankfully, many governors and state legislatures around the country are already answering this call -- as our new study, The U.S. Bioscience Industry: A Powerful Engine for State Economies, demonstrates. Keep Reading at https://www.realclearhealth.com/2026/01/08/americas_biotech_leadership_depends_on_the_states_1157584.html

GLS 2025 Year in Review

December 22, 2025
Dear Georgia Life Sciences Community, As we reflect on the past year, I want to extend my sincere thanks to our Georgia Life Sciences members for making it such an impactful one. Your engagement and leadership continue to move our industry forward and advance our shared strategic priorities— driving strong policy, expanding the talent pipeline, and creating intentional spaces for collaboration across Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem. Our Year in Review captures the progress we’ve made together across these priorities and highlights the collective impact our members are having statewide—from strengthening the workforce and supporting manufacturing growth to elevating Georgia’s position as a national life sciences leader. This progress is only possible because of the collaboration, commitment, and insight of our member community. 
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