A Medical University of South Carolina team has been systematically building up a biorepository of COVID-19 patient samples for the past two months and will soon be ready to distribute portions to researchers.
Patrick Flume, M.D., a pulmonologist and co-principal investigator of the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research (SCTR) Institute, said a working group was established last week to advise on the best use of the samples.
“It’s a precious and finite resource, so we want to make sure it goes to the best science,” he said.
So far, the only samples distributed have been to researchers at MUSC and Clemson University working on antibody test development.
To collect samples, the biorepository has been able to take advantage of MUSC’s statewide reach. MUSC Health Florence, which has cared for a greater number of COVID-19 patients than University Hospital in Charleston, joined the effort earlier this month and has already submitted samples from eight inpatients.
Leslie Cantu
Senior Communications Manager
Leslie Cantu is the senior communications manager at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, where she works with researchers, clinicians and patients to tell the people of South Carolina about the innovative work being done to improve cancer care for everyone in the state. She joined the MUSC Office of Communications and Marketing in 2018 after a career as an award-winning writer, editor and producer at community newspapers and local TV news. She transferred to the communications office at Hollings in 2022, where she happily finds something new and interesting to write about every day. Her favorite stories to cover at MUSC have included Match Day, the Angel Tree Parade, a clinical trial of CAR-T cell therapy and the many patients who have agreed to share their very personal struggles and triumphs.
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