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.

Georgia’s Life Sciences Momentum is Getting Noticed Nationally.

August 21, 2026
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) has named Georgia #4 among its “Next 5 States” for emerging U.S. biopharma clusters . The article highlights UCB’s planned $2 billion investment at in Gwinnett County, Micron Biomedical’s new Alpharetta facility, Manus Bio’s expansion in Augusta, Science Square, Emory University, the CDC — and Georgia Life Sciences’ 10-year Life Sciences Roadmap . This recognition is exciting. But even more importantly, it validates the work happening across our entire ecosystem — and perfect momentum as we head into the 2026 Georgia Life Sciences Summit next week. Read more by visiting: Next 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters

BIO Supports PDUFA VIII Commitment Letter and Urges Timely Reauthorization

August 17, 2026
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) Senior Vice President of Science & Regulatory Affairs Annetta Beauregard issued the following statement on the release of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) VIII commitment letter: “For more than 30 years, PDUFA has helped deliver hundreds of new medicines to American patients. As a lead industry negotiator for the PDUFA VIII agreement, BIO supports the PDUFA VIII commitment letter and its strengthening of regulatory review, advancing innovation, and helping deliver safe and effective treatments to patients. “Specifically, the PDUFA VIII agreement includes important commitments that bolster the FDA’s core review activities, ensure accountability for predictable performance, improve financial sustainability and improve communication, transparency and efficiency. “Timely, bipartisan reauthorization of PDUFA is vital for protecting the health of Americans, strengthening U.S. competitiveness, and maintaining America’s global leadership in medical innovation. BIO is committed to working with Congress to ensure reauthorization by September 30, 2027.” The FDA has announced plans to hold a hybrid public meeting at 9am on 9/16 to discuss the proposed enhancements for the reauthorization of PDUFA for fiscal years (FYs) 2028 through 2033. Learn More about PDUFA and the PDUFA VIII commitment letter HERE .

Georgia Life Sciences Submits Comments on Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program

August 17, 2026
Representing Georgia’s life sciences community, GLS emphasized the importance of advancing policies that improve affordability and patient access while preserving the environment necessary for continued biomedical innovation. In its comments, GLS urged CMS to maintain a framework grounded in FDA regulatory determinations and raised concerns about how certain proposed policies could affect post-approval research and development, investment in new indications, and patient access to innovative therapies. GLS also encouraged CMS to consider the broader implications for healthcare delivery, including the potential impact on patients and providers in rural and underserved communities. As federal drug pricing policy continues to evolve, Georgia Life Sciences will continue to advocate for approaches that balance affordability, access, and innovation while ensuring Georgia’s life sciences community has a voice in the policymaking process. Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments to CMS ( click here ).
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