South Carolina Becomes 26th State<br>To Form Biotechnology Association
Dr. Robert Oldham, an internationally recognized cancer specialist, has been named chief executive officer of the newly formed South Carolina Biotechnology Association (SCBA), a non-profit trade association. He has more than 20 years experience as a biomedical researcher in academic, government and corporate sectors.
Dr. Oldham, director of the Biological Therapy Institute in Nashville, established the oncology division of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and was associate director of the university's Cancer Center. He also has served as chairman of the boards of Media America, American Patient Services and Cancer Therapeutics Inc., all in Nashville.
"There is a tremendous need in South Carolina to raise public awareness about biotechnology," Dr. Oldham said. "We have 11 very successful pharmaceutical companies with facilities in South Carolina, such as SmithKline Beecham and Roche Carolina, Inc. They have biotech components that can be recruited to our State along with other smaller biotech companies. We have invited South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges to serve as honorary chairman of the SCBA."
BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum said, "We welcome the efforts of South Carolina's leaders to communicate the benefits of biotechnology to a new and broader audience. The South Carolina Biotechnology Association will help ensure that biotechnology becomes part of the new economic dynamic in the South."
The SCBA will be recognized as an affiliate of BIO, which represents more than 830 biotechnology companies, academic institutions and state biotechnology centers in 47 states and 26 nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
For more information about the SCBA, contact Executive Director Nancy Moore Thurmond: (803) 642-4141 or rko-nmt@mindspring.com.