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 Announces New Board Members and Executive Committee Leadership
January 20, 2026. Paulding County has been designated a BioReady Silver Community by Georgia Life Sciences, the state’s leading life sciences membership organization. The BioReady designation recognizes communities that demonstrate strong zoning practices, infrastructure capacity, and readiness to support biotechnology and life sciences development. “We are proud to recognize Paulding County as our newest BioReady Silver community,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “Paulding County’s proactive planning, growing workforce, and access to regional healthcare and transportation infrastructure position it well to support life sciences manufacturing and commercialization. Through the BioReady program, we champion communities that are intentionally preparing to compete for industry investment and job growth.” Paulding County’s designation reflects its commitment to thoughtful land-use planning, scalable infrastructure, and business-friendly development policies that support life sciences and advanced manufacturing uses. Located in the northwest Atlanta metro region, the county offers access to a strong labor pool, major transportation corridors, and regional healthcare systems, making it an attractive option for biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics, and related life sciences companies seeking room to grow. “Georgia BioReady designation validates Paulding County’s readiness to support bioscience investment and strengthens our position as a growing hub for advanced industries,” said Alex Almodovar, President & CEO, Paulding County Economic Development Inc. & Industrial Building Authority The BioReady rating system evaluates communities across three tiers—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—based on their readiness to attract and support life sciences facilities. Through these ratings, Georgia Life Sciences helps municipalities better showcase biotech-appropriate sites, strengthen infrastructure planning, and clearly identify life sciences-friendly locations. This approach enables communities like Paulding County to compete more effectively for private investment and high-quality job creation. Georgia Life Sciences advances innovation, strengthens the workforce pipeline, and grows Georgia’s life sciences economy through the BioReady Community program, modeled after MassBio’s nationally recognized rating system, which assesses a community’s readiness to host life sciences facilities based on zoning practices and infrastructure capacity. About Georgia Life Sciences Georgia Life Sciences, founded in 1989, is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes the interests and growth of the life sciences industry. It is the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization working to improve access to innovative discoveries that have lifesaving impact. The association connects business, academia, government, and other allied entities involved in the application of life sciences products to fuel growth and collaboration through policy development, community programs, national industry initiatives, and a portfolio of educational and networking events. Learn more at galifesciences.org.
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