University of South Carolina
Complimenting the well-established collaborative and integrated relationship between USC and GHS & GHS's Cancer Center, the Institute for Translational Oncology Research (ITOR) of Greenville Health System (GHS) and the University of South Carolina Cancer Research Center (CCUSC) have embarked on a pathway to fully explore and develop a long-term relationship focused on expanding a framework of cooperation and collaboration to investigate, develop and translate, from bench to bedside, research having value in the field of oncology.
Building on the complementary strengths of both entities, USC's Cancer Research Center and ITOR of GHS will jointly strive to develop programs, projects and innovative initiatives which can accelerate the development of new anti-cancer drugs with the purpose of improving quality of life and survival for patients with cancer.
Translational research initiatives of specific interest include the co-development of an expanded bioinformatics-driven tissue bank & Biorepository Services Platform which would further elevate existing capabilities and infrastructure at both institutions - ultimately in conjunction and integrated with cancer gene discovery & molecular validation capabilities.
Background
The University of South Carolina and the Greenville Health System - home to ITOR - have a deep history of partnership which formally commenced in 1983 with 4th year residents from the University's School of Medicine beginning rotations at GHS.
Other formal linkages between GHS and USC include the establishment of a University of SC College of Pharmacy Campus at GHS, and the formation of the Institute for Advancement of Healthcare (IAHC) - a joint collaborative initiative that supports innovation strategies designed to enhance health and healthcare delivery.
Most recently, the trustees for both GHS and USC approved a "foundation agreement" (August 6, 2010), to expand the USC School of Medicine's program at the Greenville Memorial Hospital Campus - concurrently creating a unique future opportunity to advance and accelerate translational research initiatives associated with ITOR and the USC Cancer Research Center.
Translational research initiatives are currently underway between USC's Cancer Research Center and the GHS Cancer Center in vital areas including oncology rehabilitation.
www.sc.edu/
USC Cancer Research Center - http://www.sc.edu/cancer_research/
USC Center for Colon Cancer Research - http://cccr.sc.edu/
Clemson University
ITOR and Clemson University continue to explore mutually beneficial opportunities in translational oncology research that could potentially utilize the Clemson Genomic Institute's (CUGI) world-class capabilities in gene sequencing. ITOR is also interested in collaborating with the university's high-performance computing platform to potentially support ITOR's mission to discover and develop clinically meaningfully molecular and genomic markers with prognostic and predictive capabilities.
Additional Note: Prolanta, a targeted therapeutic protein for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer under further development by Oncolix, was pioneered in the Clemson Biomedical Institute (formerly known as the Oncology Research Institute) which is located on the Memorial Campus of Greenville Health System, adjacent to ITOR. A member of the GHS-based Clemson Biomedical Institute faculty team continues to serve as scientific advisor for the further development of Prolanta, and the ITOR Clinical Research Unit will be involved with the first clinical trial of Prolanta in metastatic breast cancer which is anticipated to begin in Q4 2010.
Background
Founded in 1889, Clemson University offers approximately 80 undergraduate and 110 graduate degree programs to more than 19,000 students. Clemson is one of the nation's highest-ranking public universities and is recognized as a top-tier research university.
Greenville Health System and Clemson University have a long-standing innovation relationship supported by translational research endeavors in areas ranging from bioengineering to aging driving innovation initiatives.
University of Minnesota
In collaboration with the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota, the ITOR Clinical Research Unit is participating in a research study for pancreatic cancer.
The objective of this clinical trial is to determine if the combination of agents used in the study will lead to longer term progression free survival for patients with pancreatic cancer.