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Lottery to fund vision, GI cancer center The South Carolina Lottery Center of Economic Excellence Oversight Committee Wednesday awarded $ 9.5 million in matching money for two new research centers at MUSC. The funded proposals are in the areas of vision research and gastrointestinal malignancy research.   Four and a half million dollars has been awarded to establish a Vision Research Center, a collaborative effort between MUSC and the University of South Carolina. The center’s mission is the utilization of cutting-edge technology to discover and develop novel pharmaceutical and gene-based therapies for the prevention and treatment of eye diseases.   “Our center will focus primarily on eye diseases affecting people as they age,” said Craig E. Crosson, Ph.D., project director and professor and vice chairman for Ophthalmology Research at MUSC. “The risk of developing eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy increases with age.”   Studies estimate that 35 percent of individuals 65 to 74 years of age will require cataract surgery, while in individuals 75 years of age or older this risk increases to 65 percent. Recent studies have shown that the risk of developing one of the retinal diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy is 45 percent in individuals 65 years of age or older.    “The USC Department of Ophthalmology, in partnership with MUSC, is enthusiastic about the opportunity to translate research advances into drugs and devices,” said Richard Davis, M.D., professor and chair of USC Department of Ophthalmology and director of education of Palmetto Health Ophthalmology Residency Program. “This collaboration will undoubtedly spur economic growth and improve the health of South Carolinians and the nation’s health as well.”   The moneys will fund three endowed professors in the Vision Research Center. Individuals to be recruited for these positions will be actively engaged in identifying new therapies for diseases, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa or will be will have expertise in the use of cutting-edge bio-engineering and material sciences techniques to develop novel products for improving surgical outcomes and drug delivery.    It is anticipated that during the first year, each of the senior investigators hired for the professorships will bring a minimum of $1 million in annual research funding and employ a technical staff of at least four individuals. It is also anticipated that the Vision Research Center will serve as a center for new product and business developments creating new jobs through the formation of new start-up companies.  Based on the history of the eye care industry, it is expected that the intellectual property generated by each endowed professorship will yield one to three licensing agreements, and that at least two start-up companies will be created within four years.   Five million dollars has been awarded for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Gastrointestinal (GI) Malignancy. GI malignancies (esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum) account for at least 12 percent of cancer mortality, and South Carolina ranks fifth in the nation in esophageal cancer mortality.   The initial emphasis will be on gastroesophageal malignancy, according to Carolyn Reed, M.D., project director and deputy director of clinical affairs of the Hollings Cancer Center. “These are serious cancers, with almost uniformly poor prognoses, and are particularly burdensome on minorities,” said Reed.    “MUSC is uniquely poised to overcome these challenges,” said Reed. “There is a high incidence of esophageal cancer in South Carolina, and we have a statewide referral base. In addition, we have nationally recognized surgical and endoscopic ultrasonography expertise on campus.”   The new center will concentrate on the development of clinical diagnostic products and methods to monitor the response to treatment of individuals suffering from gastrointestinal malignancies and improve clinical practice. The individual to hold the endowed chair will be a senior translational scientist with outstanding scholarship and leadership skills. Because the ultimate goal is to include all of GI malignancy in a multidisciplinary center, expand the liaison with the specialized program in colon cancer at the University of South Carolina and develop collaborative clinical and research endeavors in the upstate, the individual must have a demonstrated record of ability to develop collaborative relationships with other academic, community and industrial affiliations.   The Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, a partner in the project, providing leadership in the upstate, has pledged a minimum of $2 million in matching funds.   “Spartanburg Regional and the Gibbs Regional Cancer Center are honored to be a part of this important initiative,” said Ingo Angermeier, president and CEO of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.  “As a leading teaching and research institution in the Upstate, we look forward to partnering with both public and private sector organizations to develop collaborative and clinical research endeavors for this program.”     The center will not only secure additional research funding to MUSC, but is expected to support at least one new private sector business or raise patent licensing revenue directly related to the research.   Friday, July 8, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.