"The investments in health sciences research that will result from this collaboration, give South Carolina the fuel we need to attract more researchers, generate more and better research, secure more national funding, and attract more out-of-state businesses that will want to take advantage of the intellectual powerhouse we create. Equally important, it allows us to develop more effective treatment options, directly enhance quality care and outcomes for patients, thereby improving the health of South Carolinians," he continued.
Pinckney cited the fact that South Carolina is disproportionately affected by stroke, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes when compared to other states. Yet the state has limited resources to fight these problems. "Pooling the financial and intellectual resources of our respective institutions presented us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the course of South Carolina's future for the better," he said.
The partners intend to create a research foundation that will provide a structure and the vehicle for research, including clinical trials conducted by the universities and hospitals. The non-profit foundation will be governed by a board of directors composed, in part, of representatives from Greenville Hospital System, Palmetto Health, MUSC and USC. This will ensure the four entities have decision-making control over how and where the monies will be invested as well as a formula for sharing grant revenues, intellectual property, and indirect costs generated by research initiatives funded by the effort.
Freeman, Greenberg and Sorensen agreed that today's announcement goes far beyond
business as usual. "Academic
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Contact: Robyn Zimmerman
rzimmerman@ghs.org
864-455-1422
Greenville Hopsital System
26-Apr-2004