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Vision Science Center of Economic Excellence
University collaborators: Medical University of South Carolina (fiscal agent) University of South Carolina (collaborative partner)
About the Center: This Center focuses on new gene and pharmaceutical bases for the treatment of macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and other eye diseases. The Center's chairs will have expertise in the areas of gene and pharmaceutical-based treatments for retinal degenerative diseases as well as bioengineering and material science techniques to develop novel products for improving surgical outcomes and drug delivery. This Center will serve as a platform for new product and business development and will create new jobs through the formation of start-up companies and IP licensing. The Center’s most significant scientific accomplishments were in the pathogenesis of macular degeneration and whether or not vitamin A derivatives can be used to treat the disease. The Center also seeks to determine whether changing protein acetylation status can prevent or slow vision loss due to glaucoma. Partners include Alcon Labs, Alimera Scientific, Inotek Pharmaceutics, QLT Inc., Taligen Inc., and Pfizer. To date, more than $2.3 million in research funds have been received. In 2009, the Storm Eye Institute, in which the Vision Science Center resides, purchased a Spectralis HRT+OCT—the only one in South Carolina—allowing researchers to efficiently translate basic findings into new therapies.
Funding level: SmartState Endowed Chair:
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