Tim Opler, Managing Director at Stifel, discusses why bioinnovation should be understood as a public good and how drug costs can undermine public trust in the life sciences. He explores the widening funding gap between early- and late-stage biotech, the effects of M&A and interest rates, how AI could reshape medicine around consumers, and what it takes to build a lasting life sciences ecosystem in Georgia.About Georgia Life SciencesAs the leading advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences’ mission is to advance the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry through partnerships and initiatives that accelerate innovation, investment, and job creation. To accomplish this mission, Georgia Life Sciences conducts economic development activities; advocates on behalf of its members on public policy matters; educates the public about the benefits of life sciences research and product development; and provides a network for idea exchange and cooperation.For more information on the impactful work, to join as a member, or provide support to the mission, please visit Georgia Life Sciences at https://www.galifesciences.org/About Cloudcast MediaAs the national leader in local podcasting to create a "listen where you live" mindset, Cloudcast Atlanta, a division of Cloudcast Media, proudly produces "VITALS: The Pulse of Georgia Life Sciences" through its CauseCast platform to help amplify, augment, and accelerate the mission and reach of community social impact organizations. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media.This episode was produced by Senior Associate Producer Brandon Joe. The episode was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Sky Guides Atlanta, the podcast program and studio affiliated with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Devin Dunn, Vice President for Innovation of Texas Medical Center, discusses how TMC intentionally built a leading life sciences and healthcare innovation ecosystem by focusing on specialized talent, translational commercialization, and aligned public and private capital. She explains the evolution from accelerators to a venture fund, the impact of Texas-wide initiatives like CPRIT and a new dementia-focused fund, and why focus, ecosystem design, and entrepreneurs-in-residence matter for regions like San Diego seeking to turn world-class research, health systems, and supply chain assets into scalable medtech and biotech companies. About Georgia Life SciencesAs the leading advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences’ mission is to advance the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry through partnerships and initiatives that accelerate innovation, investment, and job creation. To accomplish this mission, Georgia Life Sciences conducts economic development activities; advocates on behalf of its members on public policy matters; educates the public about the benefits of life sciences research and product development; and provides a network for idea exchange and cooperation.For more information on the impactful work, to join as a member, or provide support to the mission, please visit Georgia Life Sciences at https://www.galifesciences.org/About Cloudcast MediaAs the national leader in local podcasting to create a "listen where you live" mindset, Cloudcast Atlanta, a division of Cloudcast Media, proudly produces "VITALS: The Pulse of Georgia Life Sciences" through its CauseCast platform to help amplify, augment, and accelerate the mission and reach of community social impact organizations. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media.This episode was produced by Senior Associate Producer Brandon Joe. The episode was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Sky Guides Atlanta, the podcast program and studio affiliated with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Uncertainty isn’t going away. From AI and geopolitical shifts to supply chain disruption and changing healthcare policy, today’s life sciences leaders are navigating a landscape where the only constant is change.But what if uncertainty isn’t just something to manage—it’s something you can use to your advantage? In the latest episode of Vitals, Gary Lynch, Founder & CEO of The Risk Project and author of Uncertainty Advantage: Single Point of Failure or Opportunity?, shares insights from decades of advising global companies on how leaders can turn uncertainty into opportunity. Gary explores how organizations can:• Build resilience in an unpredictable environment• Identify opportunity amid disruption• Move beyond traditional risk management• Create organizations that are more adaptable and innovativeAbout Georgia Life SciencesAs the leading advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences’ mission is to advance the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry through partnerships and initiatives that accelerate innovation, investment, and job creation. To accomplish this mission, Georgia Life Sciences conducts economic development activities; advocates on behalf of its members on public policy matters; educates the public about the benefits of life sciences research and product development; and provides a network for idea exchange and cooperation.For more information on the impactful work, to join as a member, or provide support to the mission, please visit Georgia Life Sciences at https://www.galifesciences.org/About Cloudcast MediaAs the national leader in local podcasting to create a "listen where you live" mindset, Cloudcast Atlanta, a division of Cloudcast Media, proudly produces "VITALS: The Pulse of Georgia Life Sciences" through its CauseCast platform to help amplify, augment, and accelerate the mission and reach of community social impact organizations. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media.This episode was produced by Senior Associate Producer Brandon Joe. The episode was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Sky Guides Atlanta, the podcast program and studio affiliated with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta, Georgia.
WELCOME TO VITALS, THE PULSE OF GEORGIA LIFE SCIENCESIn this episode Georgia Life Sciences President & CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe, sits down with Dave Penake, CEO of Saol Therapeutics and Chair of Georgia Life Sciences, for a conversation about leadership, biotech growth, rare disease innovation, and the future of Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem.Drawing on a career that has taken him from semiconductor manufacturing to biotech hubs in Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area—and ultimately to Atlanta—Dave shares the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership and his belief in taking a long-term view when building life sciences companies.The conversation explores Saol Therapeutics’ evolution and pipeline, including the company’s work in rare disease and pain, as well as the difficult strategic decisions involved in financing, portfolio development, partnerships, and determining when another organization may be better positioned to advance an innovation. Dave also discusses the importance of patient communities and how their experiences continue to motivate the Saol team.Maria and Dave then turn to Georgia’s growing life sciences ecosystem. Having worked in Boston and the Bay Area before spending nearly a decade in Atlanta, Dave shares why he sees Georgia’s talent, universities, infrastructure, workforce retention, and quality of life as significant competitive advantages. He also discusses opportunities to strengthen the connection between university innovation, entrepreneurship, capital, company formation, and commercial-scale growth.As Chair of Georgia Life Sciences, Dave also shares his priorities for the organization, including executing Georgia’s life sciences roadmap, aligning leaders across the ecosystem, measuring progress, and building greater support for the industry.The episode closes with a look at what gives Dave optimism about the future—from accelerating technological advances that could unlock new treatments and cures to growing global competition that may push the U.S. life sciences industry to innovate even faster. In this episode:Building and leading a life sciences company for the long termAdvancing therapies for rare diseases and unmet patient needsMaking difficult decisions around capital, partnerships, and growthKnowing when to build, partner, license, or hand off an innovationWhy Georgia can compete as a leading life sciences hubConnecting university research with entrepreneurs and capitalExecuting Georgia’s life sciences industry roadmapThe future of biotechnology, innovation, and U.S. competitivenessAbout Georgia Life SciencesAs the leading advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences’ mission is to advance the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry through partnerships and initiatives that accelerate innovation, investment, and job creation. To accomplish this mission, Georgia Life Sciences conducts economic development activities; advocates on behalf of its members on public policy matters; educates the public about the benefits of life sciences research and product development; and provides a network for idea exchange and cooperation.For more information on the impactful work, to join as a member, or provide support to the mission, please visit Georgia Life Sciences at https://www.galifesciences.org/About Cloudcast MediaAs the national leader in local podcasting to create a "listen where you live" mindset, Cloudcast Atlanta, a division of Cloudcast Media, proudly produces "VITALS: The Pulse of Georgia Life Sciences" through its CauseCast platform to help amplify, augment, and accelerate the mission and reach of community social impact organizations. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media.This episode was produced by Senior Associate Producer Brandon Joe. The episode was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Sky Guides Atlanta, the podcast program and studio affiliated with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta, Georgia.
WELCOME TO VITALS, THE PULSE OF GEORGIA LIFE SCIENCESIn this episode of Vitals: Georgia's Life Sciences Podcast, Georgia Life Sciences President & CEO Maria Thacker Goethe sits down with Helen Tarlatin, Director of Employee & Community Engagement at UCB, to discuss one of the most significant life sciences investments in Georgia's history. Fresh off UCB's announcement of its $2 billion biologics manufacturing facility in Gwinnett County, Helen shares why Georgia emerged as the ideal location, what this investment means for patients, and how workforce development, education, and community partnerships are shaping the next generation of biotechnology manufacturing. The conversation explores how industry, education, government, and nonprofits must work together to build the skilled workforce needed to support America's growing life sciences sector. Topics include:Why UCB selected Georgia for its first U.S. branded biologics - manufacturing facilityThe strategic importance of domestic pharmaceutical manufacturingBuilding a sustainable life sciences workforce and talent pipelineThe role of Georgia's universities, technical colleges, and workforce partnersSTEM education and inspiring future biotechnology careersLeadership lessons on collaboration, transparency, and community engagementGeorgia's emergence as a national hub for biotechnology and advanced manufacturingHow public-private partnerships strengthen economic development and innovationWhether you're a biotechnology executive, entrepreneur, educator, student, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of healthcare innovation, this episode offers valuable insights into the investments and partnerships transforming Georgia into one of America's leading life sciences ecosystems.About Georgia Life SciencesAs the leading advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences’ mission is to advance the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry through partnerships and initiatives that accelerate innovation, investment, and job creation. To accomplish this mission, Georgia Life Sciences conducts economic development activities; advocates on behalf of its members on public policy matters; educates the public about the benefits of life sciences research and product development; and provides a network for idea exchange and cooperation.For more information on the impactful work, to join as a member, or provide support to the mission, please visit Georgia Life Sciences at https://www.galifesciences.org/About Cloudcast MediaAs the national leader in local podcasting to create a "listen where you live" mindset, Cloudcast Atlanta, a division of Cloudcast Media, proudly produces "VITALS: The Pulse of Georgia Life Sciences" through its CauseCast platform to help amplify, augment, and accelerate the mission and reach of community social impact organizations. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media.This episode was produced by Senior Associate Producer Brandon Joe. The episode was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Sky Guides Atlanta, the podcast program and studio affiliated with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta, Georgia.