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Centers & Institutes

The Centers and Institutes at the Medical University of South Carolina stand as cornerstones of excellence in health sciences education and research. These entities catalyze interdisciplinary collaboration, driving innovation and technological advancements to elevate educational, research, and patient care outcomes. They serve as collaborative hubs to unite a spectrum of academic disciplines.

Integral to our healthcare ecosystem, our Centers and Institutes transcend traditional departmental boundaries. They harness cross-disciplinary expertise to forge an innovative environment while elevating our academic, research, and patient care initiatives.

Centers

Purpose: Enhance clinical and translational research through a sophisticated informatics infrastructure by empowering researchers across South Carolina with advanced tools and systems for effective data management and analysis, specializing in developing and maintaining critical research infrastructures, fostering an environment where shared knowledge and resources accelerate scientific discovery, and maximizing the impact of research collaborations.

Director: Leslie A. Lenert, M.D., MS

Purpose: Advance the intersection of basic science and clinical medicine while researching molecular cardiovascular mechanisms, innovating therapeutic approaches for heart diseases, and pioneering the development of tissue-based, patient-specific pacemakers, significantly contributing to the evolution of cardiac healthcare.

Director: Martin Morad, Ph.D.

Purpose: Dedicated to strengthening career pathways in academic medicine, healthcare, and biomedical sciences

Director: Carol Feghali-Bostwick, Ph.D.

Purpose: Establish an academic structure within the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology to host the activities related to the teaching of anatomical sciences to the students in the College of Health Professions, College of Dental Medicine, and College of Medicine, as well as provide a university interface to support and promote anatomical research studies, educational projects, and continuing education workshops.

Director: Richard P. Visconti, Ph.D.

Purpose: Provide leadership and infrastructure in the imaging sciences necessary for basic and clinical scientists to collaborate, discover new ways to study normal and disease processes, develop and apply this knowledge to clinically relevant research, and translate these advances to the patient community while providing a quality graduate education environment.

Director: Jens H. Jensen, Ph.D.

Purpose: Enhance the research capacity and competitiveness of CDLD members and Junior Investigators (JIs) by expanding available infrastructure, access to quality training, and opportunities to collaborate, thereby enabling outstanding basic research in digestive and liver disease.

Director: Stephen A. Duncan, DPhil

Purpose: Provide a leading-edge cellular therapy program to support the growth of innovative cellular therapy products.

Director: Prabhakar K. Baliga, M.D.; William P. Lancaster, M.D.; Hongjun Wang, Ph.D.; Shikhar Mehro, Ph.D.

Purpose: Enhance the mental and emotional well-being of firefighters and their families through innovative resources developed in collaboration with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and funded by FEMA by focusing on self-help, peer support, and professional behavioral health services for those affected by occupational and major life stressors.

Director: Tatiana M. Davidson, Ph.D.; Angela D. Moreland-Johnson, Ph.D.

Purpose: Advance MUSC's efforts to improve health in South Carolina and worldwide through research, education, training, and service.

Director: Michael D. Sweat, Ph.D., Kathleen Ellis

Purpose: Seeks to identify, understand, and improve differences in health outcomes and healthcare access across various populations, utilizing multidisciplinary approaches and innovative data analytics to develop effective health solutions and policies.

Director: William P. Moran, M.D., MS (Interim)

Purpose: Enhance the well-being of individuals in South Carolina and beyond by promoting aging research, fostering innovations through pilot awards, and focusing on all aspects of aging while acknowledging that the process begins at birth and requires strategies that span one's entire lifespan.

Director: Hermes J. Florez, M.D., Ph.D., MPH

Purpose: Aims to unravel the neurobiological underpinnings of heightened drug-seeking behavior and impaired competing behavior development in people with a substance use disorder by focusing on synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal to accumbens pathway as a key factor in cocaine relapse to innovate effective addiction treatments.

Director: Peter W. Kalivas, Ph.D.

Purpose: Expand the frontiers of neurological rehabilitation knowledge through collaborative research, fostering interdepartmental and external partnerships, and prioritizing patient-centric discoveries that offer tangible health benefits.

Director: James S. Krause, Ph.D.; Steven A. Kautz, Ph.D.

Purpose: Advance teaching and learning by integrating instructional design and learning technologies, cutting-edge AV technology, innovative learning space design, and multimedia excellence to empower educators and learners.

Director: Julaine Fowlin, Ph.D.

Purpose: Advance the understanding and treatment of brain development disorders, like autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability, by researching their genetic, molecular, and neural underpinnings, ultimately enhancing the health and well-being of those with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Director: Christopher W. Cowan, Ph.D.

Purpose: Lead national efforts in multidisciplinary and translational research on alcohol treatment by integrating basic science and clinical investigation to understand the progression from social drinking to excessive alcohol consumption while fostering a collaborative environment that attracts new investigators and enriches training for future researchers.

Director: Howard C. Becker, Ph.D.

Purpose: Eliminate epilepsy as a barrier in patients' lives through advanced diagnostics, multidisciplinary approaches, and a full spectrum of medical and surgical therapies by ensuring holistic care that encompasses medical, surgical, social, and psychological aspects of epilepsy management.

Director: Jonathan C. Edwards, M.D.

Purpose: Enhance research infrastructure and expand research capacity to enable outstanding, collaborative biomedical research in digestive and liver diseases.

Director: Don C. Rockey, M.D.

Purpose: Revolutionize surgical practices and improve healthcare efficiencies through a synergy of surgical artificial intelligence, clinical trials, and human-centered design, fostering advancements in AI/ML and data science to transform patient care and clinical decision-making in South Carolina and beyond.

Director: Arman Kilic, M.D.

Purpose: Eradicate cancer through cutting-edge research, comprehensive patient care, and dedicated community engagement by engaging a multidisciplinary team of experts, pioneering in areas from cancer biology to immunotherapy, focusing on personalized patient care and community outreach, and expanding access to quality care for all.

Director: Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D.

Purpose: Dedicated to advancing Parkinson's research through supporting laboratories, recruiting specialized researchers, and providing cutting-edge facilities and infrastructure for clinical research to develop innovative therapies for Parkinson's Disease and related disorders.

Director: Gonzalo J. Revuelta, D.O.

Purpose: Dedicated to advancing the field of neuromodulation, providing a platform for research, education, and collaboration to enhance rehabilitation practices through innovative workshops, conferences, webinars, and funding opportunities, all aimed at fostering a dynamic learning and research environment.

Director: Steven A. Kautz, Ph.D.

Purpose: Advance understanding and improve the mental health of crime and trauma victims through comprehensive research, education, evidence-based treatment, and public policy consultation while fostering collaboration with victim service agencies and providing specialized training and media engagement to heighten public and scientific awareness.

Director: Dean G. Kilpatrick, Ph.D.

Purpose: Enhance national preparedness and support for victims of mass violence through comprehensive research, training, technology, and collaboration, ensuring the provision of high-quality, evidence-based services and information while advocating for victim-centric public policies and a supportive approach in all aspects of its work.

Director: Dean G. Kilpatrick, Ph.D.

Purpose: Integrate cutting-edge mass spectrometry technologies, comprehensive instrumentation, and advanced computational resources by focusing on clinical and translational proteomics and centralized diagnostics to drive innovative protein analysis and biomarker discovery research supported by a consortium of institutional and external funding sources.

Director: Richard R. Drake, Ph.D.

Purpose: Leverage the collaborative strengths of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and South Carolina State University in research and community engagement to develop a future generation of cancer researchers specially trained to improve cancer health outcomes for South Carolinians.

Director: Marvella E. Ford, Ph.D.; Judith D. Salley-Guydon, Ph.D.

Purpose: Dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research on sex and gender differences, particularly in addiction and stress-related disorders, with a commitment to improving women's health through community-based initiatives and national collaborations, supported by continuous funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH).

Director: Aimee L. McRae-Clark, Pharm.D.

Purpose: Advance the understanding and application of brain plasticity to develop innovative, science-based therapies for post-stroke rehabilitation, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and mentored training to enhance treatment efficacy, reduce disability, and improve the quality of life for stroke survivors.

Director: Steven A. Kautz, Ph.D.

Purpose: Augment cerebrovascular education and research at MUSC through dedicated resources, expertise, and mentorship to foster enhanced research opportunities, grant development, and global collaboration.

Director: Daniel T. Lackland, DrPH

Institutes

Purpose: Establish a leading center for neuroscience research and advocacy by creating a platform for sharing neuroscience knowledge within the MUSC community, supporting the growth of emerging neuroscientists, enhancing collaborative efforts in the neuroscience field, and engaging the public in understanding and supporting neuroscience research.

Director: Jacqueline F. McGinty, Ph.D.

Purpose: Advance pediatric healthcare through pioneering research to transform scientific discoveries into practical solutions to enhance the health and wellness of children and elevate pediatric care globally while developing the next generation of scientists and physicians.

Director: Denis C. Guttridge, Ph.D.

Purpose: Conduct interdisciplinary research and to publish analytic studies that relate human values to the development of health policy, legislation, and systems of delivery of patient care, and that advance knowledge and understanding of the ethical conduct of research.

Director: Grant Goodrich, Ph.D.

Purpose: Cultivate exceptional leadership at MUSC by offering comprehensive development programs and workshops that enhance skills, expand perspectives, and strengthen organizational and external influence while building a dynamic leadership network that drives MUSC's ongoing success and innovation in healthcare leadership.

Director: Elisha L. Brownfield, M.D.

Purpose: Dedicated to improving education and access, recruiting and retaining the world's best transplant team, and embracing innovation and collaboration in research through team science to improve long-term survival, prevent organ rejection, and discover transplant alternatives.

Director: Vera Ford, MBA

Purpose: Promotes a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, enabling the seamless translation of scientific breakthroughs into clinical applications to advance the understanding and treatment of heart failure while developing innovative treatments, uncovering the mechanisms of heart failure, and identifying early detection markers to revolutionize cardiac healthcare.

Director: Donald R. Menick, Ph.D.

Purpose: Serve as the motivation for changing the culture of biomedical research in South Carolina by providing expertise, resources, and training to streamline the processes associated with translating observations from the laboratory (T0), clinic, and community to interventions that improve individual and public health (T4).

Director: Patrick A. Flume, M.D.; Kathleen T. Brady, M.D., Ph.D.

Purpose: Evaluate and enhance the value of intellectual assets from the Medical University of South Carolina by forging industry relationships and translating these innovations into practical health sciences solutions and services while championing the commercialization efforts of intellectual property-backed innovations.

Director: Todd Headley, MBA