University of South Carolina, Claflin University
To Partner on HIV/AIDS, Cancer Initiative
Institutions to share $7.5 million grant from federal health disparities agency
ORANGEBURG, S.C.
Claflin University and the University of South Carolina will share a $7.5 million federal grant to eliminate health disparities in HIV/AIDS and Cancer in the Palmetto State.
The funding agent, the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health, promotes minority health and leads, coordinates, supports and assesses the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities.
South Carolina, the lead institution, will receive 60 percent ($4.57 million) of the grant monies, while Claflin University will receive 40 percent ($2.93 million). The partnership is expected to strengthen South Carolina’s mission to boost the quality and quantity of research that is relevant to the needs of its citizens.
Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president of Claflin University, says, “The USC-Claflin EXPORT partnership will offer an environment for stimulating exchange between Claflin’s and USC’s faculty and allow students to engage in undergraduate research. And, more importantly, the joint effort will lead to narrowing the gap among those affected by HIV/AIDS and cancer in South Carolina.”
The Community Partnerships and Outreach Core of the USC-Claflin EXPORT partnership will work with community leaders and public health agencies to develop and implement solutions to community health problems identified through the collaboration.
USC President Andrew A. Sorensen says the grant represents the best of partnerships. “South Carolina has many health problems, and solving them is too big for just one institution. That is why I am delighted to be part of this announcement … because it represents the very best of partnerships, including one between two institutions deeply committed to research, outreach and teaching.”
The partnership will provide fellowships and research internships; undergraduate courses in public health; a public health research seminar series; and a post-baccalaureate program in public health at the Arnold School of Public Health at USC.
The Research Core consists of two major (five-year) projects and one two-year pilot project. All of the projects focus on HIV/AIDS and cancer (in particular human papillomavirus and cervical cancer). The major aim of this project is to establish a Molecular Virology Laboratory at Claflin University. The laboratory will serve as an important resource for all research activities of the Project Export Center.
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