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Finding resources, fostering a supportive environment
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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
Medical research universities have many important roles to include
developing new technologies and innovations delivering these advances
to biomedical applications. During the past decade, MUSC has achieved
national prominence as a biomedical research institution and has played
an increasingly important role in improving health care across the
state.
To realize MUSC’s potential to improve quality of life by all measures,
MUSC needs to provide an environment that promotes the application,
development and transfer of technology; fosters and rewards innovation;
and responds to emerging priorities to advance health care, education
and research, according to the 2010 Strategic Plan’s
technology/innovation planning committee.
Recognizing the importance of research discovery and application,
technology/innovation was identified as one of the four core themes for
the new five-year MUSC Strategic Plan. In January, a committee composed
of 16 MUSC faculty members and staff involved in various aspects of
research across the campus was formed to develop a framework for
enabling technology and innovation at MUSC. The group was led by
Richard Swaja, Ph.D., professor and South Carolina Centers of Economic
Excellence Endowed Chair of Regenerative Medicine.
“MUSC’s new strategic plan provides a basis for future decisions and
directions aimed at meeting the university’s three mission components
of health care, education, and research,” said Swaja.
Among the group’s initial priorities was to define innovation and
technology as applied to a medical research environment. According to
Swaja, innovation was defined as discovery put to use, and technology
was considered to be the enabling factors for research and
implementation.
Technology/innovation
committee
objectives
- Maximize the use
of resources and technologies to advance health care, education and
research at MUSC and throughout South Carolina
- Create and nurture
an environment that fosters innovation
- Accelerate and
capitalize the transfer of new technologies and research advances
- Identify and
sustain new revenue streams that adapt to changing biomedical economic
environments
The committee
emphasized the importance of recognizing both existing and new
technologies needed by researchers, educators, and clinicians to do
their work. To consider and implement new technologies, they
recommended the establishment of a trans-college committee to evaluate,
communicate, recommend, and provide related training. The committee
also suggested two areas for technology development that transcend
almost all research programs at MUSC—biomedical imaging and computer
technology.
MUSC’s Department of Radiology has established a Center for Biomedical
Imaging which will coalesce and develop campuswide imaging resources
for broad use. Upgraded and faster computer resources need to be
considered for biomedical informatics, modeling and simulation, data
analysis, and telemedicine applications. According to Swaja,
“Improvements in these areas will enhance MUSC’s research, education,
and health care capabilities and provide new program opportunities.”
For innovation and technology transfer, the group recognized the
importance of a work environment that supports, encourages, and rewards
efforts in these areas. “We need to foster innovation and accelerate
the transfer of research advances to the patient community to maximize
the benefits of our work,” said Swaja. “We also need to communicate our
advances at national and global levels to enhance our visibility and
impact.”
Other efforts such as MUSC’s Drug Discovery and Bioengineering Building
projects will provide dedicated, world-class resources to support
research and innovation related to drug discovery and regenerative
medicine. These buildings will facilitate biomedical collaborations
with the other graduate research universities across the state—Clemson
University and the University of South Carolina.
To address challenges with funding, the planning committee suggests
that new revenue funding streams need to be identified and pursued.
They recommend that the university consider agreements with national
industrial communities, local businesses, and community and university
organizations to provide business support and contacts for research
entrepreneurs.
Despite the challenging economic and political times, MUSC is moving
forward with programs and infrastructure development. The university is
poised to move to the “next level” of national prominence and
leadership, according to Swaja.
Swaja and his technology/innovation committee’s recommendations were
submitted with others to the MUSC strategic planning steering
committee. He is working with a new operational group for his area to
plan how the institution will implement the recommendations.
The complete 2010 Strategic Plan was approved by the president and MUSC
board of trustees in August. Since then, a campuswide implementation
and oversight committee was established to execute the plan. This group
is tasked to evaluate and monitor the progress of the plan’s
objectives. Operational groups for the other three core initiatives
also have been established. Each group’s progress will be measured
annually.
For information on the 2010 - 2015 Strategic Plan, visit http://www.musc.edu/strategicplan.
Friday, Oct. 29, 2010
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