SwampFox

Spring Biogram 2002

Submitted by: John Warner on Mar 18, 2002 at 6:00 am Tagged with: General Archives Source:

Swamp Fox

Spring Biogram 2002

The news that we are losing millions of research dollars and an internationally
known researcher, Dr. Rod Wing, Director of the Genomics Institute at Clemson
University, is sobering news for the Palmetto State. To attract biotech
initiatives to South Carolina, our academic institutions must continue to build
a viable research base with more than bricks and mortar. The $27 million
biotechnology complex due to open at Clemson this summer is commendable, but
coupled with that ''state-of-the-art'' firm foundation, we must attract
cutting-edge scientists, like Dr. Wing, who have the capability and capacity to
bring in a large team of research colleagues in their respective fields.

Other essential building blocks include federal grant monies and state
government support. This is an area where South Carolina could well spend its
lottery money to enhance our research universities with endowed chairs,
strengthened research programs and recruitment efforts for top faculty. The
current proposal to spend $10 million of the $127million annual lottery revenue
is a start but more is needed. To simply stay up with other southeastern
states, $40 million should be allocated with an expectation of matching monies
to be raised by our three universities. Our research universities have to be a
driver in the quest for economic development and excellence in the future.

The other key component in developing a knowledge-based economy is the business
community and corporate sector. Our business leaders and opinion makers must
realize the tremendous potential and the great importance to health and
humankind that biotechnology is to our State if we are going to be competitive
with Georgia, Florida and Texas, North Carolina, etc in the global market. Our
government and business leaders must be willing to take a risk to develop
venture capital funds that will attract biotech companies and high-paying jobs
to our State.

SCBA wishes Dr. Wing, a member of our advisory board, every success in his new
endeavors. His loss to our State is more than a red flag. It is a wake-up
call that it is not too late if we take bold, courageous action. It takes
vision to turn medicine and science into life advancing, life-saving
breakthroughs. It takes courage and financial resources to move from concept
to reality, from status quo to excellence.

One significant proactive solution is for South Carolina to be a sponsor and a
participant at BIO 2002, June 9-12, Toronto, Canada, at the International
Biotechnology Convention and Exhibition. Showcasing South Carolina as a
biotech-friendly state with a booth to network and recruit is a greatly needed
step. This is an unparalleled opportunity to explore partnering, investment,
technology transfer and economic growth options for South Carolina as leading
pharmaceutical and biotech industry representative and other biotech experts
gather from around the world. The South Carolina Department of Commerce, the
South Carolina Biotechnology Incubator Facility in Greenwood, and SCBA, and
perhaps others, need to come together in a South Carolina booth to promote
biotechnology efforts in South Carolina. Biotechnology must become a part of
the driving force behind the new economy in our State for the 21st century.

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