Carolina research funding hits all-time high
University of South Carolina research funding reached a record $206 million in fiscal year FY2008, up 11.3 percent from FY2007. Since 2002, it has increased by nearly $100 million.

Carolina President Harris Pastides said the dramatic increase in funding indicates that the university’s researchers are earning recognition not only for the quality of their research, but also for its relevance and impact on society.

Rose Booze, the university’s interim vice president for research, added that  “The double-digit increase in research funding points to the impact of recruiting new faculty through the Centenary Plan and the Faculty Excellence Initiative and to the diligence of our veteran faculty.”

$1.1 million for USC cancer researcher
The National Cancer Institute (NCI, NIH) has awarded USC $1.1 million for a study by Dr. James Carson and his colleagues in the Departments of Exercise Science, Biological Sciences, and the Center for Colorectal Cancer Research. The study, funded through a four year R01 grant, is focused on identifying exercise and nutritional countermeasures that can prevent the causes of severe muscle wasting in colon cancer.

Harris Pastides elected university's 28th president
The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees has unanimously elected Dr. Harris Pastides to become the university's 28th president. The selection of Pastides, 54, who has served as the university's vice president for research and health sciences and executive director of the South Carolina Research Foundation since 2003, followed a national search that drew some of the nation's most talented and promising academic leaders, said Herbert Adams, chairman of the university's Board of Trustees.

Nurse leader named to research post
USC’s College of Nursing has named health information and safety evaluation expert Dr. Rita Snyder associate dean for research.

“With a growing emphasis on the importance of patient safety, Dr. Snyder’s expertise in nursing information and quality will bring us to the national level of that arena,” said Dr. Peggy Hewlett, dean of the university’s College of Nursing. “We are privileged to have her serve as our new associate dean of research.”

Dr. Harris Pastides, the university’s associate vice president for research and health sciences, said Snyder represents the new face of health sciences at Carolina.