Soon, South Carolinians will elect a new governor and members of the legislature. These leaders will dictate the future of our state’s medical research, which is saving lives and creating jobs here.
For example, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center recently played a role in a major medical breakthrough.
In August, a first-of-its-kind personalized mRNA treatment proved effective at keeping melanoma from coming back after surgery. Patients who received the treatment were less likely to see their cancer return. Hollings was a trial site that contributed to the research behind this breakthrough. Thanks to South Carolina researchers and patients, cutting-edge cancer vaccines moved closer to reality
mRNA technology made the melanoma vaccine possible. One MUSC oncologist compares it to “handing the immune system a wanted poster” because mRNA trains the body to hunt down any cancer cells left behind. And life sciences research also strengthens our economy by $20.1 billion, supports more than 60,000 jobs, and generates $5.4 billion in annual wages.
Yet, mRNA remains a political target. Last legislative session, South Carolina lawmakers filed legislation that would suspend the licenses of doctors who administer certain mRNA treatments. Bans or restrictions on mRNA would halt all research at Hollings, jeopardizing the potential for additional mRNA-based treatments that offer hope to patients fighting cancers or other deadly diseases.
This November, let’s support candidates who embrace mRNA research. Sick patients in South Carolina deserve every treatment available, and our economy cannot afford for this important industry to disappear.
Hunter Sox
