Honoring the Legacy of Lee Herron

It is with deep sadness that the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) announces the recent passing of Lee Herron, an accomplished scientist known for his brilliant mind and deep devotion to his family and community.

Herron worked as an entrepreneur and veterinarian with a passion for scientific and medical research. He spent the final 16 years of his career with the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), where he served as the senior vice president and university startup advisor until the spring of 2024. The initiative Herron oversaw in his final role helped drive more university inventions to benefit Georgia farmers and food producers and strengthened the relationships between Georgia’s universities and the state’s agriculture sector.

Herron’s impact and influence were felt by many members of the Georgia Tech community. Ajit Yoganathan, Regents' Professor Emeritus and Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering, recalled their time working together.

“I met Lee for the first time around 2002, when he came to meet with me in the BME Department to discuss the fledgling Coulter Translational Program. Over the next decade, we worked together closely on establishing and enhancing the Coulter Program, and he advised me on how best to translate my inventions and patents from ‘Bench to Bedside.’ To this day, I clearly remember him sitting in my office in the Whitaker Building saying, ‘Ajit, the more shots you take on goal, the higher the percentage of being successful with your ideas and affecting patient lives.’ That mantra has been true for me, and I credit Lee for his advice and friendship over the past 20 years. Since my retirement four years ago, we served on the Coulter review panel for translational research, most recently in March. I will miss his intellect and insights into assessing projects that have the opportunity to help patients.”

“Lee Herron was an extremely patient and dedicated mentor to me and many colleagues as we navigated entrepreneurship,” said Michelle LaPlaca, associate chair for faculty development and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia  Tech and Emory University. “He was sincere and had a unique insight into the challenges facing faculty. He not only taught us about the entrepreneurial process, but coached us on how to think like entrepreneurs, how to interact with board members and investors, and how to pivot our ideas. While secretly a Bulldog, he was an enthusiastic member of the Georgia Tech community before moving to the Georgia Research Alliance and will certainly have a lasting impact on people across Georgia and the entire biotechnology business sector.”

Herron joined the GRA in 2008 and directed its award-winning venture development program for 15 years. In that time, the GRA successfully launched more than 200 university-based companies that attracted $2 billion in equity investment. Before the GRA, he managed the biosciences division of Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) and founded four biosciences companies: SeaLite Sciences Inc., Biopool International Inc., CytRx Corporation, and Theragenics Corporation.

"I am greatly saddened to hear about the passing of Lee Herron. I have known Lee for over 10 years,” said Cynthia Sundell, senior director of life sciences and VentureLab principal at Georgia Tech. “During that time, he was a mentor to me and a wonderful colleague at GRA. Lee was knowledgeable about what it takes to commercialize life science technologies and provided useful feedback to countless entrepreneurs. He was a brave warrior in his fight against cancer and I will always remember his indomitable spirit.”

Herron received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia and completed an internship at Cornell University. He also studied experimental pathology at Emory University. He served as a director on multiple boards and was known for his love of family and youth sports. He is survived by his wife, Rita, three children, and eight grandchildren.