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Cancer Disparities

Center of Economic Excellence


Inception:
2008

University collaborators:

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) (fiscal agent)

University of South Carolina (USC) (collaborative partner)

South Carolina State University (collaborative partner)

About the Center:

The Center will work to increase prostate cancer screening and early detection among African American men. The specific goals of the Center are 1) with partners throughout the state, to test methods of increasing African American participation in prostate cancer clinical trials; 2) to develop tools and techniques to increase early-detection screening of African American men for prostate cancer; and 3) to train students and junior faculty to conduct prostate cancer research in South Carolina.

A major problem faced by prostate cancer researchers in South Carolina is the lack of in African Americans included in prostate cancer research, despite the fact that prostate cancer mortality rates in South Carolina are three times greater for African Americans than for Caucasians. According to the South Carolina Cancer Alliance, African Americans are significantly underrepresented in prostate cancer clinical trials. A common barrier to the development of new knowledge for medical problems affecting racially and ethnically diverse populations is the ability to enroll diverse patients in medical research.

The AT&T Foundation awarded $1 million to the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center to provide 500 African‐Americans in South Carolina with free prostate cancer screenings and to provide treatment advice and education to men who receive abnormal test results.

This Center builds on existing strengths of MUSC, US, and South Carolina State University. MUSC has excellent basic science faculty and a strong program in cancer prevention and control, including an outstanding cancer disparities component. USC and South arolina State have strong research emphases on health disparities. 

Three endowed chairs will direct the research efforts of the center. All will have expertise in prostate cancer and prostate cancer clinical trials research.

Funding level:
$3.6 million

SmartState Endowed Chairs:

 

Chair Name   Status
Center of Economic Excellence Endowed Chair in Cancer Disparities (MUSC)  

Actively recruiting

Center of Economic Excellence Endowed Chair in Cancer Disparities (MUSC)  

Actively recruiting

Center of Economic Excellence Endowed Chair in Cancer Disparities (USC)   Actively recruiting

 


 

 

 

 
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"The SmartState program attracts top scientists and other faculty to the state, which will improve the overall quality of science and technology represented at our universities. This, in turn, will attract businesses such as pharmaceutical companies and biotech startup because these companies want to locate near high quality institutions with faculty who can aid their research and development enterprises. The higher quality of universities will also benefit the state economically by attracting other faculty and students to our universities, and thereby increasing the 'education industry' in South Carolina."

Dr. Gary Aston-Jones
CoEE Endowed Chair in Neurodegenerative Diseases

 

 

 

 
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