Big UGA News

Okay, since the AJC and the Atlanta Business Chronicle have posted it.... but it hasn't made waves locally yet .... big kudos go out to UGA's Research Foundation today for getting a five-year, $18.7 million grant from one of the world's most prestigious charitable foundations, the Gates Foundation, which is largely funded and controlled by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet.

This is strong validation for the state's continued focus on becoming a center for global health (think CDC, UGA, Emory and other health-related efforts) and UGA's efforts to become a national research leader.

Full disclosure -- The Georgia Research Alliance supports many of the state's research efforts, and is a client of Jackson Spalding. But the bottom line is that these kinds of investments tend to not only support local research jobs, but also provide significant help for children and others in Africa affected by a terrible disease. Good news all around.

Official press release is here; details on researcher Dan Colley are here.

Photo Courtesy of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / Ralph Alswang