Members of GRA's Academy of Scientists convene to share ideas and insights

On a bright and blustery afternoon in November, several dozen GRA Eminent Scholars, Distinguished Investigators and Senior Fellows gathered at Zoo Atlanta for their annual convocation. They were there to share and present, listen and learn, connect and re-connect — all to advance science and innovation in Georgia. • Here we share a few scenes from a day that brought new knowledge and true camaraderie.


 

Above: GRA President Tim Denning convenes the 2024 Academy, sharing highlights from the past year and plans for the months ahead. "You are the heart and soul of GRA,” he told the scientists, “and our mantra of bringing discovery to life is rooted in what all of you do as researchers. You make the discoveries and the first steps to move them forward.” • Guest speaker Joe Mendelson, director of research at Zoo Atlanta, describes the Zoo’s research program, which emphasizes primate behavior, giant pandas and the biology of reptiles and amphibians. He also shared findings from Zoo Atlanta's study of sidewinder rattlesnakes. 


 

Above: GRA VP Justin Burns explores the journey from lab to marketplace with two who've made it — GRA Eminent Scholar Eric Sorscher of Emory and Mason Chilmonczyk, founder and CEO of Andson Biotech. • Chilmonczyk: "The more you accomplish with a small amount of money is a big part of your market success. Not how much venture capital you’ve raised, but how far you’ve gone without raising VC. That’s the mark of a successful entrepreneur." • Sorscher: "GRA is kind of a Good Housekeeping seal of approval. If you have them behind you, and you’re getting their support, you can get known nationally and internationally, and that’s a very good thing for a project. 


 

Above: GRA Eminent Scholar Suman Datta of Georgia Tech outlined how his lab is working to improve the energy efficiency of computing systems — a critical need as artificial intelligence accelerates. • Solomon Ofori-Acquah, newly named GRA Eminent Scholar at Emory and Morehouse School of Medicine, shared his vision for the Georgia Solve Sickle Cell Initiative, which he leads. • GRA Eminent Scholar Scott Jackson traced his research career arc to his recent return to UGA. His lab is working on designing genetic approaches to achieve desired goals for certain crops, then testing the outcomes. 


 

Yana Zavros, the first GRA Eminent Scholar in UGA’s new School of Medicine, described how her lab is exploring new approaches in translational medicine. These involve creating advanced cell culture models (organoids) that reflect the complexity of an individual patient’s tumor. In some experiments, Zavros generates cultures of immune cells to create predictive models of immunotherapy. 


 

Above: GRA Senior Advisor Bill Matthews confers with GRA VP Justin Burns. The Senior Advisors are seasoned leaders in industry who provide counsel to university research faculty and startup companies • GRA Eminent Scholar Larry Heck and colleagues take in the panel discussion on researchers' entrepreneurial journeys. • GRA Distinguished Investigator Lance Wells (left) with GRA Eminent Scholar Steve Stice, both of the University of Georgia. 


 

A milky eagle owl is introduced to the GRA Academy. The raptor bird then makes the first of several flights around the conference area inside Savanna Hall.