Georgia Bio Becomes Georgia Life Sciences

Georgia Bio Becomes Georgia Life Sciences

Rebrand reflects organization’s growth state and key expansion of the sector


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Atlanta, GA (January 22, 2025) – Georgia Bio announced that it has rebranded the organization as Georgia Life Sciences, bringing renewed focus and support to the core strengths of the business and academic organizations within Georgia’s life sciences and healthcare communities.


As the leading advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences promotes policy development, community programs, industry initiatives, and events, as well as the research and products of its associated member and partner organizations.


“This is a key milestone for the association. Our rapidly growing membership is a testament to the strength of our community," said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO, Georgia Life Sciences. “We recognized that our association's brand should reflect and amplify the essence of our organization and project the impact of our success on behalf of our members. As we determined that a refresh to our visual branding was needed, it became evident that our naming convention no longer reflected our mission in serving Georgia’s expansive and growing life sciences sector.”


Georgia Life Sciences will maintain their established leadership role as a convenor in Georgia by continuing to advocate for effective national, state and local policies that protect and preserve innovation, attract public and private partnerships, improve educational opportunities, and promote the renowned research institutions and cutting-edge technological resources that has established the state as a viable leader in life sciences innovation.


Georgia Life Sciences supports its membership through several organizational areas of focus:

  • Policy & Advocacy: Advance life sciences innovation through policy and advocacy leadership at all levels of government
  • Workforce & Talent: Establish Georgia as a center for excellence in life science workforce training and talent development
  • Economic Development: Provides expert advice and guidance to help companies find suitable locations and resources as they move to and grow in Georgia
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Serve as catalyst for life sciences innovation by helping entrepreneurs build successful ventures, access capital, and identify non-dilutive funding opportunities
  • Networking and Collaboration: Foster connection by convening thought leaders around relevant industry topics and peer-to-peer exchange
  • Cost Savings: Curated discounts on products and services critical to running a successful business


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About Georgia Life Sciences

Georgia Life Sciences, founded in 1989, is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes the interests and growth of the life sciences industry. It is the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization working to improve access to innovative discoveries that have lifesaving impact. The association connects business, academia, government, and other allied entities involved in the application of life sciences products to fuel growth and collaboration through policy development, community programs, national industry initiatives, and a portfolio of educational and networking events. Learn more at www.galifesciences.org.


CONTACT:

Stacey Bowlin

Georgia Life Sciences

sbowlin@galifesciences.org

703-402-7608

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Georgia Life Sciences has joined 43 state and regional life sciences organizations in signing a national Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) letter calling on Congress to take immediate action on three bipartisan policy priorities that are essential to sustaining U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation and supporting patients nationwide. With Congress back in session and several critical programs at risk of expiring, the letter urges congressional leaders to advance the following provisions without delay: 1. Reauthorize the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PPRV) Program The PPRV program has been instrumental in incentivizing the development of therapies for children with rare and life-threatening conditions. Its lapse threatens to slow or halt research that families across the country are counting on. 2. Extend the SBIR/STTR Programs The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide crucial early-stage capital for emerging biotech and medtech companies—many of them in Georgia. Without reauthorization, hundreds of innovative small businesses face uncertainty, jeopardizing new therapies, diagnostics, and technologies in the pipeline, 3. Advance PBM Transparency Reforms Greater transparency and accountability within pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices are needed to ensure that savings reach patients and employers. Reforming PBM operations is essential to strengthening access and affordability across the healthcare system. A Unified Message from the Life Sciences Community The sign-on letter reflects broad, bipartisan alignment across the national life sciences ecosystem: researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, patient advocates, and state associations all share a common message— these programs underpin America’s global competitiveness and are vital to patients who rely on continued scientific progress. Georgia Life Sciences has shared the letter with members of Georgia’s congressional delegation and will continue engaging with policymakers to emphasize the importance of swift action.
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Georgia Life Sciences’ CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe shares her perspective on the value of Georgia’s research universities in this month’s issue of Georgia Trend. “Georgia research institutions have felt a very significant impact from the federal rollbacks, specifically in NIH and NSF funding. Thacker Goethe’s message about the impact of research cuts is simple: Disruption shatters the foundational trust researchers have in grant continuity….” To read the full article, click here .
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