University of Georgia
RESEARCH & INNOVATION GOING FORWARD
06.04.25 Innovation Icon InnovationResearch Icon Research

Breaking the Silos of Biomedical Research

UGA emerges as a hub for collaborative research and innovation in biomedical sciences

Breakthroughs in biomedical research don’t happen in silos. At the University of Georgia, they happen through intentional collaboration between biologists, engineers, scientists, clinicians, students, and more, all working toward a common goal: solving global health challenges.

From reprogramming cells that respond to disease to developing mechanisms that warn patients affected by epilepsy of oncoming seizures, UGA harnesses the full power of interdisciplinary research.

“We see biomedical research as a natural focus for UGA because it brings together so many of our strengths from life sciences to engineering,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research.

UGA graduate Ashley Galanti viewing a microchip through a microscope.
Ashley Galanti, doctoral candidate in biomedical engineering
Quoatation

The faculty here are addressing the right questions and getting the necessary major grants to build a very competitive environment to facilitate cell and biotherapeutic manufacturing.

Nathan Lewis, Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar in Molecular Cell Biology

Catalysts Behind Growth

Nathan Lewis, Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar in Molecular Cell Biology, is one of the latest faculty hires fueling UGA’s momentum in biomedicine. Previously at UC San Diego, Lewis is recognized for his pioneering work in systems biology, synthetic biology, and precision medicine. His research combines big data, artificial intelligence, and cellular engineering to accelerate biomedical discoveries.

“There’s a lot of amazing resources and research going on here, and UGA has a world-class reputation in glycobiology,” said Lewis, who now holds appointments with the Center for Molecular Medicine, the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, and the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. “The faculty here are addressing the right questions and getting the necessary major grants to build a very competitive environment to facilitate cell and biotherapeutic manufacturing.”

Since arriving at UGA in 2024, Lewis has joined a wave of researchers focused on understanding how cells work, how they communicate, and how they can be reprogrammed to fight disease. His lab is developing tools to engineer cell behavior with precision, laying the groundwork for future advances in immunotherapy and regenerative medicine.

But what’s happening at UGA isn’t just one person’s vision—it’s a university-wide ecosystem where discovery happens at the intersection of disciplines.

bioengineering second image- man in blue button down shirt with glasses standing outside
Nathan Lewis, Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar in Molecular Cell Biology

Engineering Early Seizure Alerts

Ashley Galanti, a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering, is translating research into real-world impact. In 2022, she founded AMG Detection, a startup focused on wearable seizure detection technology that helps patients with epilepsy find a safe place or alert someone when a seizure is imminent.

Galanti launched the company with help from the UGA School of Law and Innovation Gateway, UGA’s hub for commercialization and startup support. She tapped into expert guidance from the mentor network and honed her entrepreneurial skills through programs like NSF I-Corps, pitch coaching, and the Investor Showcase—all of which helped bring her research into the marketplace.

Galanti’s work is just one example of how UGA blends research, education, and entrepreneurship. The institution equips students to be innovators and bring their inventions to the health care industry.

An $18M Center Focused on Glycoscience

Glycoscience, the study of sugar molecules in and on cells, is a growing field that blends chemistry, biology, and health to better understand and treat diseases, viruses, and illnesses. UGA’s BioFoundry is driving UGA’s rise in bioengineering. Backed by an $18 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the center focuses on providing resources, expanding education, and training aspiring glycoscientists.

“Through this facility, we’re going to interact with scientists in different disciplinary areas,” said Parastoo Azadi, director of the BioFoundry. “Whether they’re in the plant area, bacteria and microbial area, mammalian proteins, or they are interested in industrial applications, medical applications, production of biofuels or new materials—all of these people can come to this hub and get what they need.”

Be it a new hire bringing fresh perspective and ideas, a student launching a startup, or a cross-campus resource enabling discovery, UGA is actively building the infrastructure required to deliver real-world solutions in biomedical research and preparing students for future careers.

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