Innovation
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.
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.
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.
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UGA researcher Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy receives millions in Federal grant.
