Leaders reach pact to develop
neuroscience
On
May 9, an Australian premier visited MUSC to sign an agreement
as part of the Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding
established in 1999 between Queensland and South Carolina. 
Dr. Ray Greenberg,
left, and University of Queensland’s John Kelly, Queensland Brain
Institute deputy director of operations, sign the agreement. Standing
behind Kelly is Peter Beattie and behind Greenberg is Dr. Mark Kindy.The purpose of Queensland Premier Peter Beattie’s visit was to formally establish collaboration between the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland and MUSC’s Neuroscience Institute. While in Charleston, Beattie toured the MUSC campus and received a glimpse of the biomedical research performed here.
The MUSC Neuroscience Institute, directed by Mark Kindy, Ph.D., is a nationally-known center of neuroscience research, education and treatment, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration in the South Carolina neuroscience community. The primary focus of the institute is to bridge the gap between basic and clinical sciences by providing South Carolina with the resources to treat and potentially cure neurodegenerative disorders.
QBI was established in 2003 to discover the fundamental mechanisms regulating brain function. Under the direction of Perry Bartlett, Ph.D., QBI is a leader in neuro-imaging and the development of advanced technologies. QBI also is in the process of building a comprehensive program of research aimed at promoting optimum brain function and developing new therapeutic strategies to treat the avalanche of neurological and mental illnesses.
“This is a great opportunity for MUSC and the University of Queensland to combine their individual expertise in neuroscience to identify the mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative disorders and develop potential therapeutics,“ Kindy said.
During his visit, Beattie received a Presidential Merit Award from MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D.
The relationship between Queensland and South Carolina began during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta when Beattie, then a leader of Queensland’s Parliament, visited the state and was struck by the similarities between South Carolina and Sydney. After being elected premier in 1998, Beattie remained so impressed with South Carolina’s commerce, education and culture that he proposed the idea to then Gov. Jim Hodges of a sister-state relationship.
On May 13, 1999, a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the two governments. The agreement focuses on cooperative efforts in the areas of education, technology, science, economic development, tourism, culture, health and sports. An additional MOU between the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Queensland State Development Department also was established at that time.
Friday, May 25, 2007
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