Georgia Bio Names Milton High School Senior as 2021 Georgia BioGENEius Winner

Priya Soneji Advances to International Competition Against Top Students

ATLANTA–( BUSINESS WIRE )–Georgia Bio and the Georgia BioEd Institute today named  Priya Soneji , a senior at Milton High School in Milton, GA, as the winner of the 2021 Georgia BioGENEius Challenge, the premier competition for high school students that recognizes outstanding research and innovation in the biotechnology field. As Georgia’s BioGENEius finalist, Priya will attend the 2021 International BioGENEius competition, which will be held virtually and featured during the BIO Digital Convention.

“In the biotech industry, young people are the closest thing we have to a crystal ball. The BioGENEius Challenge showcases scientific innovations that are only possible when young minds are given the freedom and resources to convert their ideas into action” Tweet this

Priya will compete against high school students from the U.S., Canada and Germany in the International BioGENEius Challenge. The student projects will represent a range of biotechnology topics such as healthcare, agriculture, and the environment.

Priya was selected as our winner because of the tracking microscope she developed that automatically focuses on a microorganism as it travels through three-dimensional space. Scientists typically observe microorganisms under a microscope by moving the slide or petri dish manually. Priya improved on this method by creating a mechanized device that uses AI to record video and plot the location of an organism as it travels. By enabling scientists to observe microscopic organisms for longer periods of time and more easily identify fast-moving specimens, this device has the potential to facilitate parasite diagnosis and advance the discovery of previously unknown microorganism behaviors.

“In the biotech industry, young people are the closest thing we have to a crystal ball. The BioGENEius Challenge showcases scientific innovations that are only possible when young minds are given the freedom and resources to convert their ideas into action,” said Georgia Bio President and CEO Maria Thacker. “Georgia Bio is thrilled to have Priya represent our state on the international stage at the upcoming BIO Digital Convention, and we are proud to support this Georgia scholar in her future endeavors.”

Georgia Bio also congratulates the Georgia BioGENEius runner-up,  Asmi Kumar,  who is also a student at Milton High School in Milton, GA. Asmi’s project focused on treating Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) with a low-cost, computer app-based therapy, called FollowMe. CVI occurs when neurological damage in a child’s brain causes a disconnect between the optic nerve and the visual cortex. Typically, the connection is restored through coordination therapies, where parents or therapists move an object around in front of a child so that the child may track it. This method is often expensive, time-consuming, and results in inconsistent feedback on what the child’s eyes are seeing. FollowMe uses AI and a standard webcam to track the patient’s gaze as they follow targets generated in the web-based app, which eliminates the need for expensive therapy visits. Asmi plans to continue the development of FollowMe and hopes to introduce this therapy to doctors around the world.

Judging the 2021 Georgia BioGENEius Challenge were Jamie L. Graham, Boehringer Ingelheim; Ralph L. Cordell, CDC; Ian Biggs, UGA; and Alex Harvey, ViaMune, Inc.

National and International winners will be announced after the competition. See the  International BioGENEius website  for more information on the revised 2021 schedule. Winners will receive cash scholarships.

Follow the BioGENEius Challenge:  Throughout the challenge, @BiotechInstitut will be tweeting interviews, photos, and engaging with the biotechnology community by using the hashtag #BioGENEius.

About the Biotechnology Institute

The Biotechnology Institute is an independent, national nonprofit organization dedicated to education about the present and future impact of biotechnology. Its mission is to engage, excite and educate the public, particularly students and teachers, about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving human health, food and environmental problems. For more information, visit  www.biotechinstitute.org.

About the Georgia BioEd Institute

The Georgia BioEd Institute, a division of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit the Center for Global Health Innovation, works to strengthen Georgia’s life sciences workforce pipeline through classroom-to-career initiatives that align with industry needs. BioEd works closely with its sister organization Georgia Bio, which serves the state’s life science industry. For more information about BioEd, visit them online at  www.georgiabioed.org , or on Facebook (@GeorgiaBioEd), Twitter (@georgiabioed), or LinkedIn (@georgia-bioed).

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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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