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

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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