What do people live for? A few takeaways from the 2019 Georgia Bio Innovation Summit

Georgia’s life sciences community contributes more than $20 billion to the state’s GDP according to a recent report from RTI for Georgia Bio, the state’s life sciences partnership. Employment in the sector grew by nearly 15% from 2007 to 2017, almost double the national average. 

The 2019 edition of the Georgia Bio Innovation Summit convened hundreds of life science executives, scientists, researchers and public policy officials earlier this month. With four industry tracks the program had something for everyone no matter their particular place in Georgia’s science ecosystem.

Remembering the collective “why”

Marc Boutin, CEO of the National Health Council, inspired everyone in attendance during his lunch keynote address. “Your innovations help people live their dreams,” he said. “Those dreams are not always about survival.”

“What do people live for?” What a powerful question. Marc shared the following video ad from TC Bank.

Will healthcare ever realize “value?”

During the fireside chat portion of the lunch session, Sheila Burke, strategic advisor and chair for the government relations and public policy group of Baker Donelson underscored one of the greatest challenges in shifts from fee-for-service to value-based care. Quality and value are highly nuanced and highly personal. Yet patient input where value is currently assigned is limited.

If we define value as outcomes divided by cost, the shift from fee-for-service to value-based care may be impossible or mostly ineffective until this country assigns some dollar amount to quality adjusted life years, particularly when patient interests may not always be about longevity. Much like surgery for men with prostate cancer over 70, therapies and procedures that cost seven figures or more are simply not a value-based proposition for an 80 year old when allocating scarce resources. However, they may well present value for those of a much younger age.

As always, the opportunity to connect with colleagues and expand professional networks was of high value. There were well over 500 registrants and the ballroom was near standing room only for the lunch program. Here are a few other session insights.

The latest boobytrap waiting to maim medtech and life science innovators

Design history file remediation remains a sizeable stumbling block for innovators seeking investment to advance their products is. It can – and does – kill deals. But GCMI CEO Tiffany Wilson brought an emerging issue of equal risk to light. It’s the supply chain. Will the materials for your custom circuitry still be readily available (and at a cost that does not ruin your price structure) in five years? 

Who will get your products to markets around the globe? How sensitive are they to time, temperature and other rigors of transport? Georgia’s logistics capabilities make Atlanta an excellent home for medical product companies and innovators. Beyond carriers like UPS, are there better ways to get them there? Dr. Marc Prausnitz at Georgia Tech is developing microneedle technology that presents a better way to get critical medications and vaccines to patients around the globe. 

Advice for medical product startups and innovators from the investors

Founders, your team will be talking to the money (VCs, investors, potential acquirers, etc.) and many times you won’t be in the room. This underscores the importance of culture and team building, which is typically not a great strength among founders of medtech and life science companies. Entrepreneurs seeking seed stage funding, up to $2 million or thereabout, your people are your greatest asset, not your technology or IP according to Kim Seals, general partner with The JumpFund.

Protip: if you say your innovation has no competition, you don’t know your market. And if you tell an investor theirs is the ‘last money in,’ you do not have a realistic view of the actual time and cost requirements of commercializing medical products. Thanks to Tom Callaway, venture partner with HealthQuest Capital for driving those points home.

We thank Georgia Bio, the board, staff and program steering committee for arranging and hosting an outstanding event. We are already looking forward to 2020 while putting what we learned to use and advancing conversations with colleagues new and old we saw this year.

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May 29, 2026
May 29, 2026 - Georgia Life Sciences is grateful to Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly for their continued investment in innovation, workforce development, and the future of Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem through the FY27 state budget. This funding, now in its 8th year, will support the continued growth of Georgia Life Sciences’ Biotech Teacher Training Initiative (BTTI) and strengthen our mission to build a world-class life sciences workforce pipeline across the state. By equipping educators with hands-on biotechnology and medtech training, industry-aligned curriculum (integrating medtech/AI/robotics), and real-world learning experiences, we are helping prepare students for high-demand careers in Georgia’s rapidly growing life sciences sector. Georgia continues to demonstrate national leadership by investing in the infrastructure, talent, and partnerships needed to drive scientific innovation, economic growth, and improved health outcomes. We appreciate the support of Governor Kemp and members of the General Assembly who recognize the critical role the life sciences industry plays in Georgia’s economy and future competitiveness.
May 28, 2026
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May 22, 2026
ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Biomedical today announced the grand opening of its world-class manufacturing facility spanning more than 26,000 square feet in Alpharetta, Georgia. The opening marks the most advanced commercial-scale manufacturing site for Micron’s dissolvable vaccine and therapeutic technology in the world and positions the company for pivotal clinical trials that will accelerate the availability of needle-free vaccines and therapeutics that can be self-administered at home. “A significant body of evidence has shown that our dissolvable microarray technology is as effective as — or more effective than — conventionally injected medicines. Parents, patients, government officials, drug developers, public health leaders, and payers also prefer needle-free vaccines and therapeutics that are simpler and more cost-effective to transport and store,” said Steven Damon, CEO of Micron Biomedical . “Our novel technology requires equally innovative manufacturing equipment capable of scaling production, and this facility brings us one step closer to making that vision a reality.” Micron’s technology uses a dissolvable microarray “button” that is applied directly to the skin and, when pressed, painlessly delivers medications that dissolve in the uppermost layers of skin. The facility houses all of the equipment and manufacturing capabilities to design and produce Micron’s technology at scale including R&D facilities, wet labs, dry labs, storage and professional office spaces. Micron Biomedical’s grand opening ceremony was attended by business leaders, elected officials, investors, members of academia and other stakeholders. Representatives from the CDC were also in attendance as recently the CDC launched its first-ever clinical trial of a needle-free vaccine, evaluating a novel rotavirus vaccine, CC24, delivered via Micron Biomedical’s dissolvable microarray technology. The trial, at Emory University, builds on research, published in The Lancet, about self-administered seasonal influenza vaccine via Micron Biomedical’s dissolvable microarray technology, as well as studies across other disease indications, including measles and rubella . “Georgia is emerging as one of the country’s most important biotech manufacturing hubs, attracting talented scientists, engineers, business leaders and creating exciting economic and professional opportunities for our residents,” said Todd Jones, Georgia House Representative . “With its award winning first-in-the industry technology, Micron Biomedical is among the state’s leaders in simultaneously transforming the health of people around the world with never-before-possible access to medicine and vaccines - and in investing in the workforce of tomorrow with high paying jobs and growth opportunities." This year, published research reinforced consumer preference for microarray technology and Micron Biomedical was recognized as the number two most innovative company in its class by Fast Company for addressing global demand for simplified administration and distribution of vaccines and drugs. The scientific community support includes recent commentary in The Lancet which called Micron’s technology “game-changing in humanitarian settings.” Micron’s technology class has also been identified as the highest global priority innovation for overcoming immunization barriers in low- and middle-income countries by the Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy (VIPS) Alliance. “This milestone reflects the type of coordinated ecosystem growth outlined in Georgia Life Sciences’ recently released Roadmap for Georgia’s Life Sciences Sector — bringing together industry, startups, manufacturers, educators, investors, and policymakers to strengthen the state’s innovation and manufacturing capabilities,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences , who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. “With this cutting-edge facility, Micron is helping advance Georgia’s position as a national leader in biotechnology, medical technology, and life sciences innovation while reinforcing the state’s role as a scale-up manufacturing hub for the Southeast.” “Ribbon cuttings are always special and momentous events, but this one is especially satisfying because it points to an infrastructure for pivotal clinical trials of technologies being studied at Emory that have the potential to save lives and reduce disease burden by expanding coverage and access to critical medications,” said Christina Rostad MD, pediatric infectious disease associate professor at Emory University and lead investigator of the CD244 trial who provided commentary remotely. “Our team at Emory University is excited to be a part of the celebration and look forward to continuing to explore the potential of Micron Biomedical’s dissolvable microarray vaccine technology.“ About Micron Biomedical Micron Biomedical is the leader in dissolvable microarray-based, drug and vaccine administration technology with a growing pipeline of needle-free versions of previously injectable-only medicines. Micron Biomedical is a clinical-stage life science company on a rapid path to commercializing its proprietary dissolvable, microarray technology. Micron’s technology is designed to improve access and achieve better health outcomes globally through injection-free, painless, and simple and/or self-administration of drugs and vaccines, and by eliminating or reducing the need for cold chain transport and storage, enhancing safety and efficacy, and improving patient compliance. Micron partners with and/or receives funding from private and public entities including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, the Gates Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PATH and the Georgia Research Alliance. For more information visit www.micronbiomedical.com . Press Contact Shira Derasmo M: +1-917-280-2497 E: pr@micronbiomedical.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31153de2-caed-4aa2-b291-ebeed2652b70 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d855a883-fb26-47ce-9831-8ef1e0b93f43
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