Georgia Bio’s Megan Heaphy Named to the 2024-2025 Education Policy Fellow Program

Atlanta, GA (August 5, 2024) – The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education is thrilled to announce the selection of 24 new fellows for the 17th cohort of the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), including Megan Heaphy, Director of Georgia Bio’s Biotech Teacher Training Initiative & Manager of Workforce & Talent.


This cohort of leaders are embarking on an intensive 10-month journey through Georgia's education policy landscape that will begin in August 2024 and conclude in May 2025.


The participants will hear and discuss education policy with the most respected policy makers in the state and nation. At the end of a year, EPFP Fellows will be better informed, more skillful advocates for sound public policy.


“Georgia Bio congratulates Megan and her acceptance into this prestigious program,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Bio. “This experience will not only provide Megan with valuable leadership training skills, but also the organization more knowledge and networks to advance the core issues of education policy that align with our efforts to strengthening Georgia's bioscience workforce.”


Heaphy has been with Georgia Bio for over 6 years and oversees workforce development efforts spanning the entire workforce pipeline, from K-12 to the current workforce. She has over a decade of experience in science education, having taught Chemistry, Biology and AP Biology in metro Atlanta high schools in Clayton and Gwinnett counties, as well as life sciences courses at Gwinnett Technical College and Georgia State University. Heaphy serves in various leadership roles including with Atlanta Technical College, Central Georgia Technical College, Athens Technical College bioscience program advisory boards, and the Athens Community Career Academy Biomanufacturing Catalyst Committee.


A Georgia native, with degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University, Heaphy has a passion for helping educators and students gain awareness of pathways to employment within life sciences and ensuring that schools have the materials to do hands-on science labs through the Georgia Bio Equipment Depot. 


MEDIA CONTACT: 

Melissa Carter 

404-920-2043 

mcarter@gabio.org


EIN Press Release: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/733499127/georgia-bio-s-megan-heaphy-named-to-the-2024-2025-education-policy-fellow-program

Legal Experts Signal Continued Uncertainty for Life Sciences M&A

By Maria Thacker Goethe • October 22, 2025
“Evolving FTC and DOJ policies leave investors and innovators navigating a cautious M&A landscape

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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