COVID-19 biorepository will enable researchers to study response to disease

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.