October 16, 2026
By Tracie Troha

Susan Napier Thomas, Woodruff Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB), received a Golden Helix Deal of the Year Award from Georgia Life Sciences for the Healthy Ameliorated Lymphatics (HEAL) project. The project was recognized in the federal grant category following an award of up to $21.8 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) through its Groundbreaking Lymphatic Interventions and Drug Exploration (GLIDE) program.

Led by Thomas, HEAL brings together scientists, clinicians, and research institutions across the United States, as well as partners in Finland and Australia, to develop new approaches for treating lymphatic diseases. Executed jointly with co-investigator J. Brandon Dixon, associate chair for undergraduate studies and Woodruff Professor in the Woodruff School and IBB, the project focuses on creating drug delivery platforms that precisely target the lymphatic system, which plays a critical role in immune function and fluid balance. By connecting expertise across engineering, medicine, and other disciplines, the project aims to address longstanding gaps in lymphatic research and accelerate the development of therapies for patients.

Georgia Life Sciences is a nonprofit trade association and advocacy organization representing the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. Its Deal of the Year Award recognizes a company or institution for a significant transaction that demonstrates strategic vision, market influence, and long-term value creation. The HEAL project was recognized for its partnership with ARPA-H and the significant federal investment supporting efforts to advance lymphatic disease research and therapeutic development.