The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering has named Angela Gill Nelms, BMED 2007, director of Biolocity. In this role, Nelms will lead efforts to support and accelerate the commercialization of early-stage medical technologies with intellectual property held at Emory University and/or Georgia Institute of Technology.

“Biolocity unites my passions: entrepreneurship, enhancing healthcare, and Georgia Tech/Emory BME. I am excited to collaborate with the entire entrepreneurial and venture capital communities in Georgia to showcase today's excellence and jointly develop one of the most innovative ecosystems in the world,” Nelms said. 

Nelms has extensive experience in executive leadership and entrepreneurship in biotechnology. She started her career in the clinical trial space at Medtronic and Emory Healthcare. She has also served as chief operating officer at several startup companies, including Florence Healthcare, RenovoRx, and Aetos Imaging.  

Nelms’ stint at Florence Healthcare, a digital platform that supports data management for clinical trials, grew the company from four employees to over 100 and one client in 2016 to 18,000 clinical sites in more than 50 countries internationally.

Nelms has been recognized for her philanthropic efforts and promotion of medical advancements, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. At Georgia Tech, she is a member of the College of Engineering advisory board and the Georgia Tech Advisory Board (GTAB), which directly advises the university’s president. She previously served as the Coulter BME Department’s advisory board chair.

She earned the Georgia Tech College of Engineering’s Young Alumni Award and the prestigious Academy of Distinguished Alumni Award, bestowed on those who have made significant contributions to their field, the university, or society.  

Nelms was previously named one of Atlanta’s 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies, listed on INC’s list of the 500 Fastest-Growing Companies in America, named among Georgia’s Top 40 Most Innovative Companies, and recognized by the Technology Association of Georgia as one of the Top 10 Innovative Companies. 

Close to her heart is her mission to challenge misconceptions surrounding mental health and trauma. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Recovery Advocate Network, Nelms also hosts and produces the mental wellness podcast "Recovery Advocate Network: Coffee and Conversation." Through this platform, she works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health disorders, processing disorders, substance abuse, trauma healing, and challenges related to sexual identity. 

She also hosts the "Badass Leaders Podcast," where she interviews industry experts for intimate and eye-opening discussions about the challenges and joys facing today's leaders. She guides them in scaling their companies, growing their brands, and unlocking their full potential. 

As Director, Nelms will lead Biolocity and its various programs and partnerships, designed to provide university researchers with resources and experts-in-residence to help them bring their innovations to market.