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Georgia promises continued growth in the biotechnology and life science industries. The Peach State
has much to offer in terms of research centers, universities, and a highly skilled workforce.
The life sciences industry in Georgia benefits greatly from research at many renowned academic
institutions. The University of Georgia (UGA) in
Athens offers research, instruction, and outreach programs in 14 colleges and schools, and boasts over
$220 million per year in external grants and contracts. Among the many research institutes at UGA are
the Biomedical & Health Sciences Institute
and the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center.
More research funding is received at Emory University
in Atlanta than any other university in Georgia, with over $350 million in fiscal year 2004,
$320 million of which was in health sciences. Emory offers over 3.2 million square feet (2.97 square
kilometers or 297 hectares) of space for use in research, teaching, and patient care. Emory also
offers such institutes as the Winship Cancer
Institute; the Emory Center for AIDS
Research (CFAR); and the Yerkes National
Primate Research Center. Georgia Institute of
Technology in Atlanta boasts its nonprofit applied research arm, the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). GTRI performs or supports more than $100
million in research annually for over 200 industrial or government clients. Georgia State University in Atlanta hosts many specialized research centers and
institutes engaging in research, such as the Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience. Morehouse
School of Medicine in Atlanta offers research focus areas in diabetes and obesity, HIV/AIDS and
infectious disease, cancer, and space medicine. Clark
Atlanta University (CAU) Research Center for Science and Technology offers a base for research and
development, technology transfer and applications, and education in sciences, engineering, and
technology. Highlights at the Research Center include the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI)
and the Biomedical Research and
Training Program. At Mercer
University in Atlanta, the College
of Pharmacy and Health Sciences hosts such vital centers as the Center for Clinical Research,
the Center for Drug Delivery Research, and a Clinical Laboratory. Additionally, the Medical College of Georgia boasts almost $75 million in total research funding,
and plays host to the Alzheimer’s
Research Center, the Immunotherapy Center,
and the Institute of
Molecular Medicine and Genetics.
Georgia is home to one of the nation’s top assets for research: the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. The CDC is one of the 13 major
operating components of the Department of Health and
Human Services. Originally founded in 1946 to control malaria, the CDC helps to prevent and
control disease, injury, disability, and environmental health threats. The CDC also works with
states and other partners as part of a health surveillance system to monitor and prevent disease
outbreaks, including bioterrorism, and to guard against international disease transmission.
Important associations for biotechnology and life sciences in Georgia include the
Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), which
partners Georgia’s research universities, business community, and state government to foster economic
development in the state and assist in developing scientific and technology-based industry. The
Alliance has invested approximately $400 million, aiding in attracting eminent scholars, and has
leveraged an additional $2 billion in federal and private funding, assisting in creating over 5,000
new technology jobs and helping to generate over 100 new technology companies. The
Georgia Biomedical Partnership (GBP) is
a non-profit organization comprised of member companies, universities, research institutions,
government groups, and other industry associations involved in life science product and related
services research and application. The GBP provides advocacy for the industry on public policy
matters, educates the public about life science research benefits, and encourages networking. The GBP
is also an affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry
Organization (BIO).
Georgia ranks eighth in the nation for the number of biotechnology firms, with nearly 200 companies
located in Atlanta alone. Notable biotechnology and life science companies include
BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Smyrna,
Altea Therapeautics in Tucker;
Theragenics Corporation in Buford;
AtheroGenics, Inc. in Alpharetta;
Cell Dynamics; CIBA Vision in Duluth; Immucor, Inc. in Norcross; and SpectRx
in Norcross, among several others.
With several impressive research centers, universities, and companies, Georgia boasts a strong
pedigree for biotechnology and life science research, and promises to continue its successful growth
as a nexus for the industry.
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