The University of South Carolina sets new research award record

Led by projects like stroke recovery research and school improvement initiatives, the University of South Carolina set a new record this year for research and sponsored awards, bringing in more than $250 million in external funding from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

The amount represents a 3 percent increase from the previous year and is not only a record for total funding, but also for awards from federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, traditionally the most competitive type of awards.

Prakash Nagarkatti, USC’s vice president for research, credits much of the funding success story to USC’s outstanding faculty. “I am so grateful for and proud of all of the hard work our faculty has contributed to make this success possible,” Nagarkatti said. “Thanks to their hard work, and that of the many support staff, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and others who form the foundation from which they are able to reach great heights, we have another record-setting year.”

Some of the largest projects funded over the past year include:

• $11.1 million from the National Institutes of Health to establish the Center for the Study of Aphasia Recovery, which will span four research sites at the Arnold School of Public Health, the Medical University of South Carolina, Johns Hopkins University and the University of California Irvine. Aphasia is a communication disorder that results from stroke or brain injury and affects the sufferer’s ability to speak, listen, read and/or write.
• Two training awards totaling more than $14.4 million from the S.C. Department of Social Services for training and evaluation services by the USC Center for Child and Family Studies. The training component involves developing and providing DSS staff training in adult protective services, economic services and child welfare.
• $4.1 million from the National Institute of Justice to USC’s Department of Psychology School Mental Health Team to evaluate methods to improve in school safety while addressing student behavioral and mental health needs.
• $4 million from the National Science Foundation to explore ways to convert agricultural waste into valuable fuels and chemicals. This project is a collaboration between USC’s SmartState Center of Catalysis for Renewable Fuels and the University of Kansas.

“These awards clearly represent a deep confidence in our university’s impressive research community,” said USC President Harris Pastides.  “Through these important initiatives, we intend to positively impact the health and wellbeing of our state, nation and world. I congratulate our exceptional faculty on this major achievement.”

The top federal award sponsors during the past year include the Department of Health and Human Services ($53.1 million), National Institutes of Health ($46 million), National Science Foundation ($18.7 million), Department of Energy ($10.1 million), Department of Education ($8.4 million) and the Department of Defense ($3.7 million).

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