BUSINESS
Georgia leaders going all in to attract new federal health agency and the Global Positioning System. As envisioned, the new agency would transform our nation’s health as DARPA Georgia leaders have united in a quest has transformed our defense capabilities. to land the headquarters of a new federThe quest for ARPA-H has unified al health-related agency — an effort that Georgia leaders in an unprecedented way. would solidify the state’s role as the epicenAll 16 members of Georgia’s Congressioter for global health. nal delegation — led by U.S. Sen. RaphaThe administration of President Joe el Warnock (D-Ga.) and U.S. Rep. Buddy Biden already has allocated $1 billion for Carter (R-Ga.). The letter, dated June 21, the new Advanced Research Projects Agento Xavier Becerra, U.S. Secretary of Health cy for Health (ARPA-H) to improve the naand Human Services, made the case for tion’s ability to speed biomedical and health why Georgia should be selected for the new research on ways to cure cancer, Alzheimagency. er’s disease, diabetes and other afflictions The fact that every Georgia congressman through national and international research and U.S. senator signed the letter is remarkpartnerships. able. The big question is where the agency “Those signatures need will be based. to be framed,” said Dr. DebLeaders in metro Atorah Bruner, Emory Univerlanta and Georgia undersity’s senior vice president stand ARPA-H can be a for research and a member life-changing opportunity of the Georgia coalition. for the state, similar to how “That’s such an amazing picGeorgia was able to become ture. We truly have unanthe headquarters of the imous bipartisan support Centers for Disease Control for this project, and all this and Prevention. came together in a matter of That’s why people have weeks.” galvanized throughout the Georgia, however, is facstate to convince federal ofing tough competition for ficials that Georgia is the the federal agency. From ideal location for the new what he’s heard, Medford agency. said other states going af“We are well-positer the project include Textioned,” said Dr. Russell as, Massachusetts, CaliforMedford, chair of the ARnia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. PA-H Georgia Coalition “We believe Georgia is (AGC). “Georgia has the the best candidate,” said Dr. right combination of sciMedford, listing the three ence, technology, commajor criteria for the agenmercial innovation, health cy — medical technology, equity, research and internahealth equity and global coltional reach — six compolaboration. “Those are three nents of success.” areas where Georgia excels.” Dr. Medford, who also Dr. Bruner pointed to all chairs the Atlanta-based the Georgia research uniCenter for Global Health versities and major health Innovation and is CEO of institutions — Emory, Covanos Inc., said the new Georgia Tech, Augusta Uniagency is being modeled afversity, University of Georter the Defense Advanced gia, Georgia State UniverResearch Projects Agensity, Mercer University, cy (DARPA) as part of the Morehouse School of MedU.S. response to the Soviicine and Grady Hospital, et Union’s launching of the Sputnik satellite in 1957. Top down, Dr. Russell Medford of among others. Georgia also is home to leading biomedDARPA’s accomplishments the ARPA-H Georgia Coalition. ical companies that are part include precision weapons Linda Klein of Baker Donelson. Dr. Deborah Bruner of of the state’s ecosystem. and stealth technology, auEmory University. Efforts for greater health tomated voice recognition BY MARIA SAPORTA
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equity also are front-and-center in Georgia. “What truly makes us unique is that we are the center for health equity, not only with race but with urban and rural health,” said Linda Klein, senior managing shareholder at Baker Donelson and a past president of the American Bar Association. Dr. Bruner agreed. “While other states talk about diversity, we do it,” she said. “There is a network across Georgia working on equity every day.” The third criterion — global partnerships — is another area where Georgia stands out. Thanks to the presence of the CDC, Georgia has become a leading center for global health. The local concentration of organizations involved with global health includes the Carter Center, the Task Force for Global Health, CARE, MedShare, MAP International, the CDC Foundation and dozens of other organizations. And thanks to the Georgia Global Health Alliance and the Center for Global Health Innovation, there is growing collaboration on international initiatives. “Having the CDC here works in our favor,” Dr. Medford said. “ARPA-H would complement the CDC, and that proximity makes complete sense.” David Hartnett, chief economic development officer at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, listed several of the state’s other advantages — the airport, the corporate community such as Atlanta-based UPS and other Fortune 500 companies, and Georgia’s designation as the top state for doing business.
“If ARPA-H is located in Georgia, researchers, companies and others engaged with ARPA-H would have easy travel access via the world’s busiest airport in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as well as a robust supply chain,” Hartnett wrote in an email. The Georgia Coalition first convened in early May to talk about going after the project. “The coalition came together so rapidly,” Medford said. “The Center for Global Health Innovation was one of the founding organizations for AGC. It was easy for us to pull everyone together under one banner… The response we got on a statewide basis was so enthusiastic.” State leadership decided to make it a statewide effort without proposing one community over another. “The entire state will benefit no matter where it’s located in Georgia,” Klein explained. Dr. Bruner said Georgia entities have been working together rather than competing with each other. “Georgia is a collaborative environment,” she said. “We understand this is a sensitive and political decision, and we understand we have good competition from the standpoint of technology. But when you look at our diversity, our global footprint, our mobility with the airport and the collaborative infrastructure that already exists, we are unique among our competitors.”
AUGUST 2022 | 27
