MUSC research gets huge boost
University to join prestigious consortium, receive up to $25M
By David Quick
The Medical University of South Carolina will get up to $25 million for a research initiative over the next five years and will join a national consortium designed to speed the process between research discoveries and patient treatment, officials announced Tuesday.
The Post and Courier
Dr. Robert Malcolm congratulates Dr. Kathleen Brady after the announcement of a multimillion-dollar grant to MUSC. The grant, part of an award designed to accelerate the use of research findings, was announced Tuesday by MUSC President Ray Greenberg (pink tie).
MUSC was one of seven institutions receiving a Clinical Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. Aside from the money, the award is a designation that places the school in a prestigious network of proven institutions eligible for research funding. In turn, those institutions provide communities with greater access to clinical trials and treatments.
The National Institutes of Health launched the award effort in 2006 with plans to select 60 institutions for the consortium by 2012. On Tuesday, the agency designated $171 million to seven new consortium members, including MUSC, bringing the total to 46 institutions. The next round will be announced in July 2010.
MUSC leaders trumpeted the award for its future advances in research, health care and economic development for South Carolina, as well as recognition for the school's excellence and reputation in medicine.
"This is truly a transformational award not only for this institution but for the entire state," said MUSC President Ray Greenberg, noting that the award is the second major national honor for the university this year — the other being the NIH's designation of the Hollings Cancer Center as a National Cancer Institute.
Greenberg said the announcement not only bodes well for research and health care in South Carolina but also for the state's economy, which suffers from the third-highest unemployment rate in the country.
"Every one of these research dollars will be used to employ well-compensated researchers and their support staffs," Greenberg said.
In theory, the funding also will help attract private biotechnology companies and start to build the state's "knowledge-based" economy.
Much of the kudos for the Clinical Translational Science Award designation Tuesday went out to the grant's primary applicants, Dr. Kathleen Brady and Dr. Perry Halushka.
Brady said, however, that the award process was the largest collaborative effort she's been involved in during her 20-year career and that more than 200 faculty and staff members from all six MUSC colleges participated.
Other beneficiaries of the designation will include 11 institutions that are part of the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Institute, including University of South Carolina, Health Sciences South Carolina, Clemson University, South Carolina State University, Claflin University, Greenwood Genetics Center, South Carolina Research Authority and Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Nationally, other institutions that received the designation and funding included University of Florida, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and New York University School of Medicine.
Since the National Institute of Health's launch of the program, the consortium has leveraged funds to expand research and training in what it calls under-served states and communities, forged new partnerships with public and private health care groups such as drug companies and health maintenance organizations, and assembled interdisciplinary research teams, among other efforts.
The National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the world's largest funding source for clinical research, wants to promote scientific innovation and collaboration, agency Acting Director Raynard Kington said.
"The ... consortium exemplifies this approach by bringing together resources and expertise to translate new research discoveries into tangible benefits for the American people."
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charlestt (anonymous) says...
Translation: more of our tax $$ for the hospitals and you get an increased likelyhood of being treated or bribed into being a lab rat.
"This is truly a transformational award not only for this institution but for the entire state," said MUSC President Ray Greenberg, noting that the award is the second major national honor for the university this year"
Nice, they gave it to us in part based on our 12% unemployment rate. What an honor.
July 15, 2009 at 12:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lazy2009 (anonymous) says...
What a waste. Why do I get the feeling someone is getting a sweet bonus because of this deal?
July 15, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
newbattleaxe (anonymous) says...
Charlestt & Lazy2009, if y'all have ever taken any medicines besides asprin, y'all have no right to complain. MUSC is one of many research institutions involved in clinical trials for medicines, medical devices, new surgical techniques, and a host of other new ideas to help people (and animals) get better faster.
I've volunteered to be a "lab rat" on a few of their studies. ALL their patient studies are done on a volunteer basis. Sometimes the volunteers get "monetary compensation," sometimes not.
This new money will make it easier to get more promising treatments "through the pipeline" from research to the patients who need them in a timely manner.
July 15, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandiet (anonymous) says...
This money will only help the quality of health care in SC and the rest of America. The grant will allow SC to attract the "best & brightest" to possibly find cures for some of our most devasting diseases.
Wouldn't you rather see money go to medical research, than give bonuses to corporate
big wigs?
July 15, 2009 at 7:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
STREETLAW (anonymous) says...
MUSC has a penchant for enouraging treatment that people subscribe to without any real understanding of the ramification. Some are mentally retarded and would never endure these "so called" remedies if they required informed consent.
But of course when treatments are exploratory even the doctors are not informed concerning long term effects and are in that respect as retarded as some of the patients they force treatment on.
Much has been said concerning the integrity and lawyers, but when it comes to medicine and money, doctors leave their ethics at the front door when they enter MUSC.
July 15, 2009 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
downtownguy (anonymous) says...
STREETLAW, you must be a disgruntled lawyer who lose a get-rich-quick scheme to extort money out of MUSC. You have no idea what you are talking about. All research is overseen by the Institutional Review Board, which requires informed consent. This town really is infested with bad lawyers. The lawyer infestation is worse than the palmetto bugs.
July 15, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blacman (anonymous) says...
Imagine how far $25 mil would go in educating our kids, feeding the poor, extending food stamp and welfare programs under this republican inspired economy. Our two repub. senators and henry brownnose had their grubby meat hooks in this one. Provide summer time activities for poor kids to reduce crime and help the unemployed poor teens, NAW.
July 15, 2009 at 9 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
Congratulations to MUSC and the South Carolina medical community! Given its size and location, MUSC churns out a disproportionately large amount of important research, and it's nice that this has been recognized by the NIH.
July 15, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
To dummies like charlestt, streetlaw, and lazy2009, you have no idea what you are talking about and should really think about the impact of what you are posting should people ever take you seriously.
Medical research is so tightly regulated in the US. One look at a consent form to enter a study would tell you that.
And academic physicians and PhDs who choose to pursue research are NOT in it for the money (if working for a university, as opposed to those in industry who do have potentially higher paydays). Those who stay in research and academics take a considerable paycut (literally hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in some specialties) to follow their passion and perform research.
I mean really... you just sound like an idiot.
July 15, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ReasonSpeaks (anonymous) says...
Congratulations and good luck! Grants like this only continue if you perform.
May you work hard, advance the fund of knowledge, and continue to improve our quality of life!
July 15, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
May MUSC discover the gene that makes a person a liberal. No disease threatens our well being as American citizens like a nobama, kennedy, leahey, or pelosi. Congrats. to MUSC for this much deserved grant.
July 15, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
STREETLAW (anonymous) says...
Downtown guy, my wife is a patient at MUSC and I live with the error of their medical wisdom every day.
As far as lawyers are concerned, their job would be a lot easier if doctors would be honest when it comes to malpractice, whether their own or others. Just try to get a doctor to suggest another doctor made a mistake.
But doctors will not tell the truth when it comes to bad medicine or accidents because it will tie up their precious time and make their profession more vunerable.
I know full well what I am talking about. And no, I am not a lawyer. And MUSC should be thankful of that.
July 15, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
Streetlaw, what does your unfortunate situation have to do with research and research grants?
July 15, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blacman (anonymous) says...
whatmeworry
How about it just might be a waste of much needed funds for projects that would advance the cause of ALL South Carolinians. How do other teaching hospitals get funded? Surely not by govt. grants.
July 15, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
Blacman, all major university hospitals get a significant amount of their funding from federal grants. It doesn't all come from collecting on medical bills, that's for sure! It has become clear that you really have no idea how the research medical system works.
Virtually all research in the United States is funded by the federal gov't at least initially. If a pharmaceutical company sniffs out an idea that they think will pay off, they will dump money into the system. But the NIH is responsible for most of the funding.
That being said, I agree that there is much waste in the government and am all for streamlining and funding other projects as you suggest. But not at the expense of healthcare research. Unhealthy children can't take part in education.
July 15, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blacman (anonymous) says...
whatmeworry
Why do I get the impression you or your spouse are employees of MUSC? Please refrain from name calling, like in your previous posts. I have.
July 15, 2009 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
well--I see we are off to our usual start--Immediate negativity on this article---BLACMAN who posted about using this money for schools--SC currently spends about $12000 a year per student on elementary education--this is in the mid range of private school education amounts yet we do not get the private school results in public schools---So money is not the answer to public school improvement---as for malpractice STREETLAW i am sure you are one that owns up to your mistakes and always stops to help and protect others and you never pass a stranded motorist and you always pick up hitchhikers---if not put action where your mouth is in complaining
July 15, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
katie (anonymous) says...
Congratulations to MUSC that is WONDERFUL! To everyone complaining, I think that is really sad, I lost a child to cancer and have many friends that have lost their children to cancer. I am sure this money will help to find cures for some of these terrible diseases that rob us of our loved ones, hopefully you will never have to realize how important it is to have such a wonderful hospital in your backyard.
July 15, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
Far more good will come from these research grants than will ever come stimulus pork barrel spending...or socialized medicine!
July 15, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
so true mb300
July 15, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
STREETLAW (anonymous) says...
Grants tend to encourage "research" that violates the 'hypercritical" oath, i.e. first, do no harm.
Since it is a teaching school, all treatment can be considered to be "research" and MUSC often totally fails to seek feedback concerning the negative impact of such treatment from a physical and emotional standpoint.
If the research does not involve patient treatment or when the patient can positively give informed consent and will sign a statement to that effect, and if they are absolutely advised of every possible adverse effect including complications that may cause problems with interpersonal relationships.
But in truth, very few people can anticpate such matters and I can assure you that doctors at MUSC do not evaluate patients both physically and psychologically before allowing them to participate in any medical procedure. They are so dull as to not realize that some of the people they are treating are not mentally competent or that some procedures may compromise the ability of the patient to be intimate forever more.
And worst, they don't care. After all they have the degrees and they get the money and they have the big houses and luxury cars and so they must be doing the right thing. Right?
Well at least they can bury their mistakes.
July 15, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lazy2009 (anonymous) says...
If MUSC is so fantastic, where are the CURES? The medical community is terrified of that question! Cure cancer and I'll be impressed.
July 15, 2009 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ReasonSpeaks (anonymous) says...
Lazy2009, off the top of my head, here are a list of "cures" developed through scientific research over the last 50 years or so:
Rabies
Polio
Childhood ALL (leukemia) - ~90% cure rate now
Acute Renal Failure
Reye syndrome
Burkitt's Lymphoma (90+% cure for certain types)
Measles
Herpes encephalitis
Meningitis
HIB
Cystic Fibrosis
Hemolytic uremic syndrome
Many congenital heart malformations
Diabetes Mellitus
Tuberculosis
Cholera
Malaria
I could go on, but time is short. Some of those listed above are cures in the purest sense of the word, some are "cures" because they have been eradicated through vaccination (polio), and some are "cures" because medications (diabetes) or procedures (congenital heart malformation) have been developed that make them totally manageable.
July 15, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
Streetlaw, clearly your experiences have skewed your ability to observe reality.
"And worst, they don't care. After all they have the degrees and they get the money and they have the big houses and luxury cars and so they must be doing the right thing. Right?"
Go take a walk to the employee parking lot at MUSC. You'll see plenty of Civics and Corollas. Things aren't what they were in the 70s and 80s for physicians and they certainly aren't like that for academic physicians.
I know there are bad physicians and scientists. But you don't go into academic research for the money because it ain't there.
You really should try to get some facts before you spout off based on your own bad experience.
July 15, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
good job reason
July 15, 2009 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mattcofc (anonymous) says...
As a former research specialist at Hollings Cancer Center, I can say this is really a great thing. It will spur MUSC to develop new treatments and conduct clinical trials here that normally would have been done elsewhere giving local patients more treatment options. Also this will keep a lot of research technicians, support staff, facilities maintenance and others (who do not make boatloads of money) employed if not creating more new jobs. A top researcher (Ph.D.) at MUSC might make at most the equivalent of what an MD makes. And in our line of work, if you do not produce, you are shown the door, such is and should be the American way.
July 15, 2009 at 8:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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