On The Move
Governor Nikki Haley Proclaims November 13, 2012 “Personalized Medicine Awareness Day” in South Carolina
Nov 2, 2012
Health Professionals to Attend Special Program and Discussion
GREENVILLE, SC - November 2, 2012 - Governor Nikki Haley declared November 13, 2012, as “Personalized Medicine Awareness Day” in South Carolina Thursday, and encouraged all South Carolinians to “learn more about how this major advance in health care will improve their health and quality of life.”
Gov. Haley’s proclamation states that personalized medicine represents a “new scientific understanding of factors, such as genetic differences” to better understand and treat disease and reduce overall cost. “South Carolinians should be pleased that Gov. Haley recognizes how important personalized medicine is to improving health care outcomes, lowering costs and creating jobs in South Carolina,” said Michael Bolick, President of Lab21 Inc, and Chairman of the South Carolina Biotechnology Industry Organization (SCBIO). “The proclamation demonstrates that the state, its life science companies, research universities and health systems intend to play a major role in advancing personalized medicine.” (Click to view here: proclamation).
SCBIO and its sponsors will host a Personalized Medicine Awareness Day Event, 5-8 pm Nov. 13 at the Greenville Downtown Hyatt, featuring renowned microbiologist Dr. Leroy Hood, a founder of the automated gene sequencer. Clinical genomic experts from the state’s major research and health care systems will discuss how gene-based therapies are changing current standards of care.
Along with Hood, expert panelists include those from Greenville Hospital System’s Institute for Translational Oncology Research, Iverson Genetics, Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute, Lab21 Inc, the Medical University of South Carolina, Bon Secours, St. Francis and Greenwood Genetic Center. Lilly USA and Pfizer are also sponsors.
By matching clinical therapies to an individual’s genetic characteristics, personalized medicine offers the opportunity to prescribe the right drug, the right dosage, at the right time for each individual, reducing adverse side effects and lowering overall costs of care.
Personalized Medicine Awareness Day is part of the South Carolina Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (SCBIO) “What Next” annual conference Nov. 14-15 at the Hyatt. The event will bring together health professionals and researchers to discuss the significantly emerging development of clinical genomics and “precision medicine.”
Registration for Personalized Medicine Day is available at www.scbio.org. The cost is $12 for non-SCBIO members and $8 for members. Registration
is also available for SCBIO’s “What Next?” conference, an event that
will bring leaders in biotech and healthcare to the state to drive
discussions on growing South Carolina’s life sciences economy.
About SCBIO
The
South Carolina Biotechnology IndustryOrganization (SCBIO) is a
statewide member-driven organization that advances life science business
and innovation through collaboration, advocacy, workforce development
and support. South Carolina life sciences businesses and industries grew
45 percent more jobs and added another 23 percent more businesses for
nearly 15,000 total employment between 2001 and 2010, according to a
2012 Battelle Institute and Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
report. The average annual South Carolinawage in life sciences is
$55,233. One sector, Medical Devices and Equipment, employs 4,226 across
76 companies.
SCBIO represents a broad array of bio
businesses that are innovating: pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical
devices,medical equipment, agricultural bio and biofuels. SCBIO has
offices in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston. For more information,
visit www.scbio.org.
