The primary goal of this COBRE center is to increase the number of NIH-supported biomedical researchers in the state of South Carolina, particularly at Clemson University.
For this purpose, Clemson University's unique strengths in biomaterials and tissue engineering are complemented by expertise in medicine and developmental biology at the Medical University of South Carolina and at the University of South Carolina to establish a Bioengineering Center for Regeneration and Formation of Tissues (SC BioCRAFT) at Clemson University.
This COBRE center will significantly augment collaborative efforts in South Carolina to recruit, train, and retain a critical mass of investigators with cross-disciplinary skills to collaborate effectively in the research area of regenerative medicine.
Mission Statement: We strive to find better treatments for human diseases by fostering interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers and enhancing interdependent intellectual capital and resources within the State of South Carolina.
Voucher Program: SCBIOCRAFT is implementing a Voucher Program aimed at promoting the two Scientific Cores and supporting efforts towards: obtaining preliminary data for a proposal, testing the feasibility of a new concept, answering questions or concerns generated by a proposal or manuscript reviewers, demonstrating advantages of novel technologies, and advancing the competitiveness of a research proposal.
Other reasonable goals will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis.
Use of funds: Awarded funds can be used for services offered by cores, utilization of equipment or other technologies, lab services, training, consultation and specialty materials needed to achieve the stated goals.
Eligibility: All local or statewide investigators can apply for the SC-BIOCRAFT Vouchers. Any faculty at any rank can apply, and faculty from the INBRE network are strongly encouraged.
Website: https://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/scbiocraft/
Primary mission: To develop a new generation of NIH-funded investigators by providing the intellectual expertise needed for one-on-one and group mentoring opportunities to early-stage and/or new investigators, financial support for investigators to obtain preliminary data and research infrastructure, and research cores with needed expertise and capabilities.
The specific aims are to:
Aim 1. Expand the critical mass of funded investigators conducting musculoskeletal research to implement the concept of virtual human trials for the development of new devices, interventions, and therapeutics in bone and joint disorders.
Aim 2. Strengthen innovative scientific cores that support and advance musculoskeletal research to serve RPLs to compete successfully for NIH funding and forge collaborative ties with investigators statewide with relevant research interests. These cores also facilitate the expansion of the center, as magnets for other PIs to work in this area.
Aim 3. Advance the ongoing development of an independent, sustainable, multidisciplinary thematic program. Through world-class core resources and a robust thematic research program, SC TRIMH aims to assume an international leadership role in musculoskeletal translational research. Using the musculoskeletal system as a model, SC-TRIMH will promote a new paradigm for translational research, i.e. virtual human trial, which will dramatically reduce costs and speed up both innovation and translation to obtain better health outcomes.
Website: http://cecas.clemson.edu/SCTRIMH/SC-TRIMH-Home.html/