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Research
Clemson and MUSC forge partnership
 Clemson
University and the Medical University of South Carolina have forged
a unique biomedical engineering partnership that could make South
Carolina a leader in the development of new biomedical engineering
technology.
The
partnership is expected to help attract millions of dollars in additional
biomedical engineering research grants. “We’re combining
the unique strengths of Clemson and MUSC to create a regional powerhouse,”
said Larry Dooley, one of the catalysts behind the new partnership.
“We’re not competing against each other; we’re
competing against the world.” Dooley is the associate dean
graduate studies and research on Clemson’s College of Engineering
and Science.
The
collaboration coalesces Clemson’s nationally-recognized expertise
in biomedical engineering, bioengineering and cell biology with
the substantial work in developmental biology and fundamental stem
cell research being conducted at MUSC. The collaborative research
will place Clemson professors in MUSC labs in Charleston, giving
them closer access to clinical testing.
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| Martine Laberge (left) is the chair of bioengineering.
The department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in bioengineering
and collaborates with both MUSC, and the University of South
Carolina School of Medicine, on biomedical engineering research
projects through the S.C. Bioengineering Alliance. |
Through
the partnership, research is already under way on vascular implants
and drug-enhanced cardiac stents that could help prevent early failure
in heart vessels. Non-cardiac work includes cell-based drug-delivery
systems, “injectable” liquid tissue implants and tissue
and therapeutic interventions for nerve regeneration, spinal
injury repair and Parkinson’s disease.
Officials
predict the new bioengineering knowledge cluster will prompt a wave
of start-up companies specializing in the production of innovative
therapeutic and research devices. The collaboration is funded by
awards from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science
Foundation.
Visit MUSC's website for more information about the school.
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