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Matter of Life and Tech: Happy anniversary?

Compliments of Upstate Business Journal & Jennifer Oladipo

Here’s what I was imagining at the end of January: You, now, breathing easier as omicron retreats into the realm of memory, no worrisome COVID variant in sight. We’re looking at each other going, “Wow, two years, can you believe it’s over?”

And, we’re thinking about all the folks who helped get us through. With SCbio’s annual conference scheduled for February 22-24, I started thinking again about all the homegrown life science organizations making a direct impact on the pandemic and our experiences of it. SCbio, the state’s life science trade organization, has an impressive list of these at https://www.scbio.org/cpages/schelps.

South Carolina has shown up in everything from testing (Abbott, Clemson University, Hoowaki) to treatment (Alcami) to remote care (ChartSpan) and protection (Humimic Medical, ZVerse). And then some. Years of background efforts were suddenly big news.

Seeing life sciences become consistent headline fodder has been a real trip. It reminds me of how business news leaped from back sections to front pages in the early 2000s, when mega-scandals rocked Enron, Tyco, WorldCom and others. Biz news got sexy. It was a permanent change. 

I hope the boosted attention to life sciences is permanent, too. Yes, to celebrate, but also to stay educated about how the world works. I wonder how the past two years would have looked if we’d started out with a broader, realistic understanding of all the parts and pieces it would take to get to the other side.

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Tamia Sumpter

Tamia is a driven senior undergraduate Bioengineering student currently enrolled at Clemson University. With a strong foundation in her field, she has honed her skills through hands-on experience in research and development at Eli Lilly & Company. During her time in the ADME department, Tamia contributed significantly by working on siRNAs and their applications in finding In Vitro-In Vivo Correlation (IVIVC). Looking ahead, Tamia has set her sights on a promising career in law. She aspires to specialize in Intellectual Property Law, with a particular focus on serving as in-house counsel for leading medical device or pharmaceutical companies. Her enthusiasm for this role is palpable as she prepares to embark on her legal journey! She is also a proud member of the Omicron Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., PEER Mentor for Clemson PEER/WiSE, and currently serves as the President of Clemson Bioengineering Organization (CBO). With her unique blend of scientific knowledge and legal interests, Tamia is poised to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare and life sciences industries.