Georgia Bio, Nationwide Life Science Leaders Unite To Celebrate Continued Investment In Biotech At New York Stock Exchange

Industry leaders from across the country to ring NYSE closing bell and kick off Biotech Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2024, New York, NY – Georgia Bio, the life sciences trade association in Georgia, joined 16 fellow life science trade organizations from across the country yesterday to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and kick off national Biotech Month. Maria Thacker-Goethe, immediate past chair for the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) and President and CEO of Geogia Bio, was among the leaders in attendance at the event, which was held jointly by NewYorkBIO and NYSE to celebrate the link between investment and innovation to best serve patients nationwide.

Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) Rings The Closing Bell® The New York Stock Exchange welcomes the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), today, Wednesday, January 3, 2023, in celebration of of Biotechnology Month. To honor the occasion, John Conrad, President of Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO), and Maria Thacker Goethe, President of Georgia Bio, joined by Michael Harris, Global Head of Capital Markets, NYSE, rings the Closing Bell®. Photo Credit: NYSE
Photo Credit: NYSE

“I’m honored to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange with the new CSBA chair, John Conrad of iBio,” said Thacker-Goethe. “Joining my colleagues from across the country underscores that collaboration will help us protect and grow the U.S. innovation ecosystem.”

Georgia is poised to be a hub for life sciences. Georgia Bio’s workforce development program guarantees that the State’s workforce will be well-equipped to meet the demands of the expanding life science community. On the investment side, Georgia Bio along with 6 southeast state associations have partnered with Life Science Nation to launch RESI South in Atlanta on March 25. RESI South will mark the first-even life sciences investor event in the region and will connect start-ups and early-stage investors, an opportunity to showcase the state’s numerous investment opportunities.

“Nationwide collaboration is crucial to driving innovation, finding cures, and ultimately improving health outcomes and quality of life for patients,” added Jennifer Hawks Bland, CEO of NewYorkBIO. “As the worldwide epicenter for the financial sector, New York is uniquely positioned as a nexus for connecting the biosciences industry with the capital that makes groundbreaking research and development possible. NewYorkBIO is grateful to NYSE for this opportunity to welcome our colleagues from across the country to Wall Street, as we bring new meaning to ‘ringing in the new year’ and kick off Biotech Month.”

The event is one of several ongoing collaborations between NewYorkBIO and NYSE, who work together to connect New York’s robust investor community with innovative life science organizations of all types and sizes.

“We are thrilled to host NewYorkBIO and life sciences leaders from across the U.S. at the NYSE to ring our Closing Bell in honor of Biotechnology Month,” said Michael Harris, Global Head of Capital Markets at the New York Stock Exchange. “As we continue to see growth in the life sciences industry, the NYSE looks forward to welcoming many more biotech companies to our community of icons and disruptors.”

Maria Thacker-Goethe joined the below leaders from life science organizations across the country:

  • Nick Shipley, Chief Advocacy Officer at BIO
  • Michele Oshman, Vice President for External Affairs at BIO
  • Chris Molineaux, President & CEO of Life Sciences Pennsylvania
  • Debbie Hart, President & CEO of BioNJ
  • Jennifer Hawks Bland, CEO, NewYorkBIO
  • Elyse Blazevich, President & CEO of Colorado BioScience Association
  • Eddie Pauline, President & CEO of Ohio Life Sciences
  • Jodie Gillon, President & CEO of BioCT
  • John Conrad, President & CEO of Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization
  • Joni Ekstrum, Executive Director of South Dakota Biotech
  • Kelly Schulz, CEO of Maryland Tech Council
  • Kendalle Burlin O’Connell, President & CEO of MassBio
  • Laura Gunter, President of North Carolina Life Sciences Organization
  • Michael Fleming, President of Delaware BioScience Association
  • Mike Guerra, President & CEO of California Life Sciences

First introduced by President Clinton in 2000, National Biotechnology Month is an opportunity for the nation’s biotech community to come together to recognize the industry’s achievements on behalf of patients around the world. Falling in January, the recognition month is also an opportunity for industry leaders to look ahead to the advancements of the upcoming year.

To capture the closing bell on January 3, refer to NYSE’s website: nyse.com/bell/calendar

About Georgia Bio

Georgia Bio (GaBio) is the state’s most impactful life sciences membership organization, advocating for the sector and its diverse innovation pipeline. For more than 30 years, GaBio has served its members by supporting companies of all sizes, from early-stage innovators and startups to established industry leaders in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology. GaBio also works closely with universities, academic and research institutions, the investment community, and other critical partners that promote this vibrant sector. GaBio works to shape public policy, improve access to breakthrough technologies, educate lawmakers, provide member programs, strengthens the workforce pipeline, and advance equity within our ecosystem by championing innovative solutions for some of the most pressing challenges of our times. For more information, visit www.gabio.org.

Contact

Jason Rupp, Georgia Bio, jrupp@gabio.org

Georgia Life Sciences Joins National Coalition Urging Congressional Action on Key Innovation Policies

December 10, 2025
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.

GLS Joins Georgia Partners in Calling for Federal PBM Reform

December 7, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences is proud to stand with patient advocates, providers, and employers across the state in urging Congress to take meaningful action on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform. We recently signed on to a joint letter to Georgia’s Congressional Delegation stressing the urgent need for transparency, fair practices, and policies that ensure savings flow directly to patients.

GLS’ President and CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe in December's issue of Georgia Trend

December 4, 2025
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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