Georgia Champion Takes Top Honor at Prestigious International BioGENEius Challenge

Milton High School Senior  Shreya Ramesh  Achieves Global Excellence in Scientific Research

ATLANTA–( BUSINESS WIRE)–Shreya Ramesh, a Milton High School senior, from Milton, Georgia, and local winner of the Georgia BioGENEius Challenge, has taken the top prize at the fiercely competitive International BioGENEius Challenge. Shreya’s innovative work on voice recognition data and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) stood out among her fellow finalists.

“We just couldn’t be more ecstatic—for Shreya as well as for the future of all biotech innovation,” said Georgia Bio President and CEO Maria Thacker. “We knew how talented she was when we saw her work, but the fact that our local winner’s unbelievably sophisticated research won the top prize at this advanced level shows you just what we can do in biotech here in Georgia, not to mention how brilliant and innovative Georgia students are.”

Organized by the Biotechnology Institute, the annual competition brings together young innovators from across North America and Germany to compete before an accomplished panel of established biotechnology researchers and academics. The winner walks away with the recognition, advisement, and support of some of the world’s best biotech innovators as well $7,500 in prize money.

Shreya’s research topic focused on the problem of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients, many of whom rely on Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) tools such as Google Voice, with voice characteristics that can unfortunately be unreadable to ARS programs. As a result of the condition, the voices of ALS patients can be slow and high pitched, making ARS software interaction problematic. Shreya’s solution was to create a novel voice compensation algorithm that converted an ALS patient’s unique vocal texture into one more easily recognized by the programs.

“Winning the BioGENEius Challenge feels absolutely amazing,” said Shreya Ramesh. “It’s great to know that my project has the potential to change lives and that I’ll have a supportive platform to help me do that. The competition was the  best  experience—I’ve met so many students who are just as passionate as I am about using biotech to change the world!”

Judges of the 2020 International BioGENEius Challenge included BioEd Institute Board Member and past Chair, Jamie Graham, partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, to whom Georgia Bio and the Georgia BioEd Institute offer a special thanks.

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 is a division of Georgia Bio, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the state’s life science industry. The Institute’s mission is to strengthen Georgia’s life sciences workforce pipeline through classroom-to-career initiatives that align with industry needs. Learn more at  www.georgiabioed.org  |  www.gabio.org.

Georgia Life Sciences Applauds Congressman McCormick for Introducing Federal Biotech Leadership Legislation

July 24, 2026
July 24, 2026, Atlanta, GA - Georgia Life Sciences applauds Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) for introducing the Biotechnology Diplomacy Leadership Act , legislation designed to strengthen America's leadership in biotechnology by establishing a senior biotechnology leadership position within the U.S. Department of State. As biotechnology continues to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and national security, the United States must remain a global leader in innovation while strengthening strategic partnerships with allies around the world. The proposed legislation recognizes biotechnology as a critical component of U.S. economic competitiveness and foreign policy and would help ensure that the federal government is well positioned to advance these priorities internationally. The legislation also reflects recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology , which called for a more coordinated national approach to advancing biotechnology and protecting U.S. leadership in this strategically important sector. "Georgia is home to one of the nation's fastest-growing life sciences ecosystems, and policies that strengthen America's global biotechnology leadership directly benefit innovators, researchers, manufacturers, and patients," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "We appreciate Congressman McCormick's leadership in recognizing biotechnology as both an economic engine and a strategic national priority." Georgia Life Sciences looks forward to working with policymakers at both the federal and state levels to advance policies that foster innovation, strengthen the U.S. bioeconomy, and ensure America remains the global leader in biotechnology.

Georgia Life Sciences Names Renee' Martin, Ph.D., Program Manager to Lead Flagship Educator Workforce Development Program

July 21, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences names Renee Martin, Ph.D., to lead its Teacher Training Initiative, advancing educator workforce development and Georgia's future life sciences talent pipeline.

Georgia Life Sciences Partnership Expands Plant Biotechnology Education for Agriscience Teachers Across Georgia

July 17, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  July 16, 2026 ATLANTA, Ga . – Eighteen Georgia high school agriscience teachers recently participated in a hands-on plant tissue culture training at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, equipping educators with biotechnology skills and classroom resources that will expand access to experiential STEM learning for students across the state. Hosted through a partnership led by Georgia Life Sciences (GLS), the workshop was facilitated by Julie Throne, Agriscience Teacher, FFA Advisor, and CTAE Department Chair at Cedar Shoals High School. Participants received practical instruction in plant tissue culture techniques using newly developed portable tissue culture kits generously donated by California-based Athena Ag. Plant tissue culture is a foundational biotechnology technique used in agriculture and plant science research to propagate plants under aseptic conditions. By incorporating these concepts into agriscience classrooms, educators can provide students with hands-on experiences that introduce biotechnology while building technical skills relevant to careers in agriculture and biotechnology. As part of the workshop, each participating teacher received two complete plant tissue culture kits to take back to their school, enabling students throughout Georgia to engage in laboratory-based biotechnology activities and explore emerging career pathways in the life sciences. "Providing educators with access to industry-relevant training and classroom resources is one of the most effective ways to inspire the next generation of Georgia's life sciences workforce," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "Through partnerships like this, we're helping teachers bring real-world biotechnology into their classrooms while expanding opportunities for students to discover careers in one of Georgia's fastest-growing industries." The training is part of Georgia Life Sciences' broader Teacher Training Initiative, a statewide workforce development program that equips middle and high school educators with the knowledge, tools, and industry connections needed to deliver hands-on biotechnology instruction. Through strategic partnerships with industry, education, and nonprofit organizations, the initiative continues to strengthen Georgia's talent pipeline by connecting classroom learning with real-world workforce opportunities. Georgia Life Sciences extends its appreciation to Julie Throne for leading the training and to Athena for its generous donation of classroom kits, helping expand access to biotechnology education for educators and students across the state.
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