New Fellowships Established in Honor of Neuroscience Institute Founding Director

AUGUST 22, 2023

ATLANTA—Georgia State has established the new Wilczynski-Georgia Research Alliance Future Faculty Fellows in Neuroscience. The fellowships will support a cohort of three high-caliber postdoctoral students in Neuroscience with the goal of attracting and retaining exceptionally promising talent.

A series of brain scans

The collaborative project is funded by an endowed gift in memory of Dr. Walter Wilczynski, the Founding Director of the  Neuroscience Institute.

“We intend these fellowships to champion a culture of inclusion and serve to expand diversity in the field of neuroscience” said Dr. Deborah Greene, whose philanthropy initiated the program.

Additional support will come from the  Georgia Research Alliance , a public-private partnership that promotes new scientific discoveries and economic growth, as well as the  GSU Research Foundation , the  College of Arts & Sciences , the  Center for Behavioral Neuroscience  and the Neuroscience Institute.

“Georgia State’s research enterprise continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and these new fellowships will bring in top-notch neuroscientists to help us continue our growth and impact,” said Dr. Tim Denning, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Georgia State. “It’s also a wonderful testament to the work of Dr. Wilczynski.”

Wilczynski became the Founding Director of the Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State in 2008, serving in the role for six years before returning to teaching and research. He was a mentor to numerous undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral research fellows.

The Wilczynski-Georgia Research Alliance Fellows will pursue research in strategically selected areas that capitalize on the strengths in the Neuroscience community at Georgia State and leverage the university’s intellectual and infrastructural resources.

“The College of Arts & Sciences is excited to launch this post-doctoral program,” said Dr. Sara Rosen, Dean of the college. “The program will provide a premier research experience to train and develop the next generation of researchers in neuroscience.”

“We are excited to welcome and support new neuroscience scholars to our vibrant research community with the goal of retaining exceptional talent for years of service to the Georgia State student base,” said Dr. Daniel N. Cox, Director of the Neuroscience Institute.

Potential home appointments for the postdoctoral fellows include the Neuroscience Institute, the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and the Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Sciences.

The fellowships will have a three-year term of support with funds for operating expenses and professional development as well as a footprint of laboratory space for building a research program.

“Neurologists are in short supply, yet more undergraduates are interested in studying neuroscience. These two trends underscore the importance of neuroscience faculty,” said Susan Shows, President and CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance. “The Wilczynski Future Faculty Fellows program will make a meaningful contribution to developing neuroscience faculty by bringing new talent to a strong program at Georgia State. The program is a big win for Georgia.”

Source: https://news.gsu.edu/2023/08/22/new-fellowships-established-in-honor-of-neuroscience-institute-founding-director/

Georgia Life Sciences Joins National Coalition Urging Congressional Action on Key Innovation Policies

December 10, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences has joined 43 state and regional life sciences organizations in signing a national Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) letter calling on Congress to take immediate action on three bipartisan policy priorities that are essential to sustaining U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation and supporting patients nationwide. With Congress back in session and several critical programs at risk of expiring, the letter urges congressional leaders to advance the following provisions without delay: 1. Reauthorize the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PPRV) Program The PPRV program has been instrumental in incentivizing the development of therapies for children with rare and life-threatening conditions. Its lapse threatens to slow or halt research that families across the country are counting on. 2. Extend the SBIR/STTR Programs The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide crucial early-stage capital for emerging biotech and medtech companies—many of them in Georgia. Without reauthorization, hundreds of innovative small businesses face uncertainty, jeopardizing new therapies, diagnostics, and technologies in the pipeline, 3. Advance PBM Transparency Reforms Greater transparency and accountability within pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices are needed to ensure that savings reach patients and employers. Reforming PBM operations is essential to strengthening access and affordability across the healthcare system. A Unified Message from the Life Sciences Community The sign-on letter reflects broad, bipartisan alignment across the national life sciences ecosystem: researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, patient advocates, and state associations all share a common message— these programs underpin America’s global competitiveness and are vital to patients who rely on continued scientific progress. Georgia Life Sciences has shared the letter with members of Georgia’s congressional delegation and will continue engaging with policymakers to emphasize the importance of swift action.

GLS Joins Georgia Partners in Calling for Federal PBM Reform

December 7, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences is proud to stand with patient advocates, providers, and employers across the state in urging Congress to take meaningful action on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform. We recently signed on to a joint letter to Georgia’s Congressional Delegation stressing the urgent need for transparency, fair practices, and policies that ensure savings flow directly to patients.

GLS’ President and CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe in December's issue of Georgia Trend

December 4, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences’ CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe shares her perspective on the value of Georgia’s research universities in this month’s issue of Georgia Trend. “Georgia research institutions have felt a very significant impact from the federal rollbacks, specifically in NIH and NSF funding. Thacker Goethe’s message about the impact of research cuts is simple: Disruption shatters the foundational trust researchers have in grant continuity….” To read the full article, click here .
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