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MUSC
SCTR
New voucher awards boost research
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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
The South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute
(SCTR) is offering voucher awards of up to a $1,000 in support. These
awards are open to all MUSC-affiliated principal investigators.
MUSC scientists and investigators can benefit from this funding
opportunity for research services and supplies to complete preliminary
data for grant proposals, improve the science and safety of a study,
and add a translational
focus to the research.
So far, 38 researchers have received SCTR voucher funds, according to
Leila Forney, R.N., lead research navigator of the SCTR Success Center.
Some of the approved services and equipment funded includes patient
care services (EKG, urine pregnancy testing, urine drug screening), lab
testing (complete metabolic panels, estradiol, progesterone), research
study supplies (blood pressure cuffs, microphone for a hearing study),
and data-analysis software for community research.
“The SCTR voucher program provides a quick, easy process for
researchers,” said Royce Sampson, R.N., SCTR Finance and Administration
director. According to Sampson, this model supports SCTR director
Kathleen Brady's idea of a Johnny Appleseed approach to funding
research—plant lots of seeds and things will grow. “We want to spread
the word about it as much as possible.”
The vouchers are open to any MUSC investigator conducting basic,
clinical, translational or community research. Once approved, funding
will remain available to the approved voucher applicant for six months.
The vouchers are part of a ongoing program involving rolling enrollment
and are different from pilot projects or K12 funded research awards. A
principal investigator may have two SCTR voucher awards simultaneously
as long as the research conducted occurs in two different research
protocols.
MUSC’s Center for Drug and Alcohol Program (CDAP) post doctoral
researcher William Griffin III, Ph.D., is a recipient of SCTR voucher
program funds for his work on neurobiology of alcohol and the brain.
Griffin learned about the program from CDAP administrator Bob Peiffer
and shared details about the program with other CDAP faculty. CDAP
participates in several of the country’s major clinical trials and
conducts the latest research on alcoholism and substance abuse
dependence. Griffin quickly applied for funding to help with the
purchase of study medication such as methylphenidate or Ritalin.
Griffin received $1,000 to study the interactive effects of alcohol
with methylphenidate.
Applicants may contact the SCTR Success Center, 125 Doughty St., Suite
100 or complete a form online at http://sctr.musc.edu
and scrolling to the SCTR Voucher Program under the Research at MUSC
heading. Next, complete the SCTR Service Request Form. A user NET ID
and password are required. For information, call 792-8300.
Friday, June 25,
2010
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