Good medicine: From college coursework to health care career – Clemson News

Report on Bioengineering Innovation and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Executive Summary

• This report analyzes the career trajectory of Dr. Emily DiNicola, a Clemson University bioengineering graduate, and the growth of Samaritan Biologics, a medical startup.
• The case study demonstrates a successful model for achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the integration of higher education, research infrastructure, and private industry.
• Primary contributions are identified in relation to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

2. Contributions to Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

• Samaritan Biologics, where Dr. DiNicola is employed, directly advances SDG 3 by developing and manufacturing human amniotic allograft products.
• These biologics, which are therapeutics derived from living organisms, are utilized for advanced wound care and surgical applications, contributing to improved health outcomes and well-being.
• The company’s focus on innovative medical technologies supports the global effort to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

3. Impact on Quality Education and Economic Growth (SDG 4 & SDG 8)

1. SDG 4: Quality Education: Dr. DiNicola’s experience highlights the value of inclusive and equitable quality education. Her undergraduate internship at Clemson’s CUBEInC facility provided advanced, hands-on research experience in tissue engineering, which accelerated her academic and professional development.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The seamless transition from a Ph.D. program at Clemson to a scientific role at Samaritan Biologics exemplifies the creation of productive employment and decent work. The growth of Samaritan from a startup to a sustainable company with a dedicated manufacturing facility contributes to sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

4. Fostering Innovation and Strategic Partnerships (SDG 9 & SDG 17)

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The report identifies CUBEInC and the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) as resilient infrastructure that fosters innovation. This ecosystem enabled Samaritan Biologics to evolve from a research-focused startup into a manufacturing entity, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The relationship between Clemson University, CUBEInC, and Samaritan Biologics serves as a powerful example of a multi-stakeholder partnership. According to CEO David Szalay, this collaboration was essential for the company’s success, demonstrating how partnerships between academia and industry can effectively drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues and achievements that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis identifies the following SDGs as relevant:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article focuses on a company developing advanced medical products for healthcare.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: It details a student’s journey through higher education, gaining specialized skills and a Ph.D. in a scientific field.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article describes the growth of a startup company and the creation of high-skilled employment.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: It emphasizes the role of research infrastructure in fostering innovation and supporting the growth of a technology-based company.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific details in the article, the following targets can be identified for each of the relevant SDGs:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines. The article discusses a research team working on “biologics, therapeutics derived from living organisms” and a company, Samaritan Biologics, that “develops, manufactures and distributes human amniotic allograft products for wound care and surgical applications.” This directly relates to supporting research and development of new medical products.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The article’s central figure, Emily DiNicola, earned a “Ph.D. in bioengineering at Clemson.” Her internship at CUBEInC provided critical research skills, which she noted “put me way ahead when I was going into graduate school because I knew how to conduct the research.” This demonstrates the acquisition of highly relevant technical skills leading directly to employment.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, with a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors. The article showcases a “boot-strapped startup” evolving into a “successful and sustainable company” in the high-value biotech sector. This growth is driven by innovation and research, leading to the creation of high-skilled jobs, as evidenced by the company hiring a Ph.D. graduate.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. The article highlights the role of the CUBEInC research facility, which “helped catapult our boot-strapped startup into a successful and sustainable company.” The story illustrates the entire innovation pipeline, from university research and clinical trials to the establishment of a manufacturing facility, driven by “great minds who… share the same passion as us to help people through science and drive the future of biotech and medtech.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not provide quantitative data but implies several qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For SDG 3:
  • Development of new medical products: The creation of “human amniotic allograft products for wound care and surgical applications” serves as an indicator of progress in medical research and development.
• For SDG 4:
  • Number of graduates in advanced STEM fields: Emily DiNicola earning a “Ph.D. in bioengineering” is an example of this indicator.
  • Student participation in research and internships: Her internship at CUBEInC as a sophomore is an indicator of educational programs providing relevant, hands-on skills.
• For SDG 8:
  • Growth of technology-based startups: The evolution of Samaritan Biologics from a startup to a “successful and sustainable company” with an “11,000-square-foot manufacturing facility” is a clear indicator of economic growth.
  • Creation of high-skilled jobs: The company hiring a recent Ph.D. graduate indicates the creation of decent work in an innovative sector.
• For SDG 9:
  • Investment in research and innovation infrastructure: The existence and role of CUBEInC and the CU-ICAR campus as hubs for research and manufacturing serve as indicators.
  • Number of research personnel: The mention of a “chief scientist” and a “research team” implies the presence of R&D workers.
  • Successful commercialization of research: The entire narrative of the company’s growth, based on research conducted at the university facility, is an indicator of successful innovation.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.clemson.edu