YOUR TURN: “Five Things You Didn’t Know About Upstate Bioscience Facilities” By: Hal Johnson

While everyone uses the Upstate’s medical industry – think doctors’ visits — many don’t realize the way our region is becoming one of the epicenters for biosciences in the nation.

Biosciences is a wide ranging industry that encompasses hospitals, medical research and life sciences companies.

The Upstate of South Carolina is home to premier medical industry and research partnerships that are making important breakthroughs each year. Healthcare companies and research iniatives here offer some of the nation’s most advanced facilities to explore and develop new techniques, procedures and applications that will shape the future of the bioscience industry.

Our region has a strong history of creating and developing companies to all levels of the medical supply chain from high purity raw materials to the packaging and distribution of finished products. The Upstate is considered one of the six emerging medium-sized region in this industry because of that infrastructure.

Data shows that the Greenville-Mauldin-Easley MSA is in the top 25 nationwide when it comes to employment in the drug and pharmaceutical fields. In addition, that MSA is the fifth largest in the nation when it comes to location quotient.

At any time, there are more than 600 clinical trials being conducted in the Upstate.

The Upstate prides itself on its state-of-the-art healthcare systems that are setting standards across the country. The 14 health systems in our 10-county region represent more than 4,500 general medical and surgical beds and two of the state’s four major trauma centers.

While there are many ways to tell the biosciences story in the Upstate, here are five facilities that are paving the way.

• The Greenwood Genetics Center is a leader in the delivery of comprehensive genetic services, including advanced genetic research, clinical services, diagnostics laboratory services and education. Its primary areas of research falls in the molecular studies and anatomic studies fields.
• The Clemson University Bioengineering Translational Research Program focuses on cardiovascular science and engineering and orthopaedic performance and biomechanics. Its partners include the university’s bioengineering department, the Institute for Vascular Health of the Greenville Hospital System and the  Orthopaedic Research Foundation of the Carolinas.
• The South Carolina Biotechnology Incubation Facility is a 22,000 square-foot facility that offers wet laboratory, meeting, office and conference space. Built in 2011, it is a full genetics  and biotechnology focused library that helps provide a hub for diagnostic, therapeutic and pharmaceutical companies.
• Located in Pendleton, the Center of Applied Technology is a 30,000 square-foot mixed use facility containing both office and wet lab space. It houses start-up companies, university tenants and soft-landing companies. It has close to 9,000 square-feet of lab space.
• The Griffin Incubator features 18,100 square-feet of mixed used facility space with approximately 6,000 square-feet of lab space. This facility hosts a mix of university researchers and start-up companies.

This kind of research means that the Upstate has the ability, facilities and the people to be on the cutting edge when it comes to economic development in the biosciences field. That is one of the messages that the Upstate SC Alliance is telling business leaders across the world.

Our region is, and can continue to be, one of the leaders when it comes to curing diseases, making people healthier and creating jobs that will provide security for the residents here.

Hal Johnson is the president and chief executive officer of the Upstate SC Alliance, a non-profit organization made up of a public and private investors aimed at promoting economic growth. Additional information is available through the Alliance’s web site, www.upstateSCalliance.com.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the author are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CRESCENT: The Magazine.

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