Georgia RDAC Publishes Its 2024-2025 Annual Report: Building Momentum for Georgia’s Rare Disease Community
Georgia’s Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) has released its inaugural Annual Report, covering activities from April 2024 through June 2025. Established by law on May 6, 2022, and fully seated in early 2024, the Council’s mission is to ensure every Georgian living with a rare disease has timely diagnosis, coordinated care, evidence-based resources, and access to effective treatments.
Key Highlights
- Operational Launch & Governance
- First official meeting in April 2024; Council now meets monthly and is guided by adopted bylaws, a mission statement, and three strategic goals.
- Diverse 2025 membership of clinicians, patient advocates, researchers, industry, and state-agency representatives brings cross-sector expertise to the table.
- Strategic Goals & Early Wins
- Policy Resource: Engaged state legislators and multiple agencies, delivered testimony, and supplied technical feedback on rare-disease legislation during the 2025 session.
- Empower the Rare Community: Drafted Georgia’s first Quality of Life Needs Assessment Survey (to launch in 2026) and attended community events such as Rare Wish and NORD’s conferences to elevate patient voices.
- Support the Medical Community: Provided guest lectures at Emory Medical School, the GA Bio Patient Engagement Summit, and other venues to raise clinical awareness of rare diseases.
- Outreach & Education
- Hosted nationally recognized speakers from NORD, PhRMA, and academic researchers to share best practices and policy insights with Council members.
- Launched a new RDAC website, improving public access to resources and Council updates.
- Metrics at a Glance
- 10 direct support requests from rare-disease patients or groups answered.
- 3 patient testimonials shared with policymakers.
- 2 community events attended and 3 listening-style presentations delivered.
- 2 bills supported or shaped through Council engagement.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Council will broaden its impact by hosting statewide listening sessions, finalizing and deploying the Quality of Life Survey, expanding collaborations with healthcare providers, and solidifying its role as a trusted policy resource for Georgia’s General Assembly.
“United, we will help our rare community thrive for years to come.” — Beth Nguyen, RN, RDAC Chairperson
Read the full 2024-2025 Annual Report HERE to see detailed accomplishments, financials, and the complete roadmap for advancing rare-disease care and research in Georgia.
Georgia Life Sciences is proud to be featured in the latest issue of Inside Medicine Magazine – Atlanta, highlighting the continued growth and impact of Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem.This inaugural issue represents something truly special. Atlanta’s healthcare and life sciences community is driven by innovation, collaboration, and outstanding leadership—and we’re honored to be part of this exciting launch. We’re proud to help showcase the people and organizations advancing healthcare across our region and beyond. Read our feature here: https://hubs.la/Q04876WJ0
B y Trevor Williams , March 24, 2026 | Global Atlanta More than 60 Belgian firms have found a home in Georgia, but nothing on this scale has yet been seen in the state. The amalgam of Belgian investment, carried out over a half-century, translates to about 5,000 current jobs. Gwinnett offered $174 million in incentives to win the project, including property tax abatements, fee waivers and utility improvements, according to Rowen. UCB is set to bring in artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and automation at the site. Biologics are therapies made from living organisms, promising cutting-edge research and manufacturing. Maria Thacker Goethe , president and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences , said the move gives state leaders even more impetus to work collaboratively to build Georgia’s talent pipeline “across every stage — from high school exposure and technical credentials to community college, university, and incumbent-worker upskilling.” “UCB’s decision underscores the strength of Georgia’s talent base, manufacturing capacity, and collaborative business climate, and it reflects the kind of long-term investment that helps build a more resilient U.S. biomanufacturing footprint,” Ms. Goethe told Global Atlanta in an email. Nine of the 16 FDA approvals for UCB drugs and therapies have come within the last three years, showing its prioritization of the U.S. market, where headcount has grown 73 percent since 2017 to 2,000 people. UCB’s products treat severe neurological and immunological conditions like epilepsy, lupus, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and many more. Read the full article here: UCB Sticks With Georgia, Placing $2 Billion Bet on State’s Life Sciences Ecosystem - Global Atlanta
Georgia Life Sciences leads effort to establish bipartisan caucus focused on advancing the state’s growing life sciences economy
