The official minutes of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees are maintained by the Secretary of the Board. Certified copies of minutes may be requested by contacting the Board of Trustees’ Office. Electronic or other copies of original minutes are not official Board of Trustees' documents.
The Health Affairs Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met on Thursday, October 17, 2002, at 4:25 p.m. in Ballroom C of the Russell House.
Members present were: Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr., Chairman; Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller; Mrs. Helen C. Harvey; Mr. Toney J. Lister; Mr. John S. Long; Mr. M. Wayne Staton; Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr. Board Chairman; and Mr. Herbert C. Adams, Board Vice Chairman. Members absent were: Mr. Alexander English and Mr. James A. Shuford, III. Other Trustees present were: Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II and Mr. Miles Loadholt.
Others present were: President Andrew A. Sorenson; Secretary Thomas L. Stepp; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jerome D. Odom; Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer William F. Hogue; Vice President for Business and Finance Richard W. Kelly; Vice President for Student and Alumni Services and Interim Vice President for Development Dennis A. Pruitt; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice Provost and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education Chris P. Plyler; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Interim Vice President for Research and Dean of The Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health Harris Pastides; Dean of the College of Nursing Mary Ann Parsons; Associate Dean of the School of Medicine Stanley D. Fowler; Manager of Visual Media, Distance Education and Instructional Support, Steve Adams; University Legislative Liaison John D. Gregory; Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences and Chairman of the South Carolina Cancer Center Franklin Berger.
Chairman von Lehe called the meeting to order, welcomed those present, and asked Board members and others to introduce themselves. Secretary Stepp stated there were no members of the media present.
Chairman von Lehe stated that the agenda had been posted and the press had been notified as required by the Freedom of Information Act; the agenda had been circulated to the Committee members; and a quorum was present to conduct business.
Chairman von Lehe stated that today's agenda would reflect the first of a number of sessions centered on the ambitious research agenda of the University, especially as it focused on the biomedical sciences. This Committee would be of growing importance, particularly as the University pursued the integration of research efforts with those of MUSC in order to take advantage of the NIH funding potential. Today, the Committee will hear a report about an $11 million NIH grant awarded to the University to conduct colon cancer research.
Dr. Pastides hoped that this Committee would embrace the fact that biomedical research touched all of the colleges. Everyone should be well aware that there had been large increases in the federal budget related to biomedical research. There also had been a concomitant increase in the private sector funding including pharmaceutical and biotechnical investments in this area. Massive investments of millions of dollars had been made in the biomedical research enterprise. The University of South Carolina was fortunate to have the right constellation of colleges and faculty to engage in this new initiative.
During the past 5 years NIH funding had increased approximately 15 percent per year to a current fiscal year total of $26.5 billion. Modest increases were anticipated during the next 5 years. It was hoped to expand NIH funding at the University more rapidly.
Dr. Pastides provided examples of the economic impact of biomedical research. It had been estimated that the discovery that lithium helped in the treatment of depression had saved $9 billion per year in medical treatment. Calcium as a preventive for osteoporosis had been estimated to save approximately one third of one billion dollars per year in preventable hip fractures. Dr. Pastides hoped that the citizens of South Carolina would realize the potential impact of biomedical research on the state' economy. He believed that people throughout the United States would place a high value on clinical research because of its inherent value for improving the health of the state as well.
In summary, Dr. Pastides stated that a team composed of University administrators was developing a plan or blueprint to identify areas of focus. They were considering research policies which will encourage collaboration, and will provide monetary incentives to those faculty who were awarded large grants. Also planned was the construction of a state-of-the-art facility on Assembly Street which will be a better facility recruitment tool. Under consideration also was the potential development of research buildings and facilities on property owned by the Veterans Administration. Dr. Pastides hoped to ambitiously pursue both state and federal legislative funding.
Dr. Berger offered comments regarding the NIH Grant, as well as the rewards and barriers of interdisciplinary research. He stated that the 5-year $11 million grant:
In summary, rewards included the broadening of technical capabilities, and the development of synergies in addressing complex problems. They included having available a multiplicity of approaches and increased competitiveness.
Barriers included building a critical mass of talented faculty in a particular area of research, setting aside individual agendas that could sometimes impede progress, and, breaking down administrative barriers through utilizing capable leadership to bring faculties together.
Trustee Staton congratulated Dr. Berger on his success; he looked forward to a future report which detailed the results.
Dr. Berger stated that he had already heard from colon cancer survivors in the community and was very pleased with this response. Chairman von Lehe thanked Dr. Berger for his report. In the past, the Health Affairs Committee had been extremely responsive to the needs of the deans and faculty of the health sciences' colleges. He anticipated the positive impact that the Committee will provide in terms of offering advice and support as this ambitious agenda was expanded. Chairman von Lehe thanked Dr. Pastides and Dr. Berger for their willingness to work with the Committee.
Dr. Sorenson stated that three links of a research university were: research and scientific discovery, teaching and learning, and service (or outreach). This grant represented an integration of all of these factors. "We are doing research to find out what causes colorectal cancer and through research developing drugs, and therapies that will prevent it. By teaching and involving undergraduate and graduate students in the experiments and the research, students will have a chance to learn while we are researching and be involved in courses related to the research. And, they will be doing outreach by reaching out to people who are at risk for colorectal cancer."
Dr. Sorenson thanked Dr. Berger and the Committee and commented that under the leadership of Dr. Pastides and Dr. Odom, the University hoped to have other $11 million grants to report.
Secretary Stepp announced that there would be a shuttle bus in the front of the Russell House to transport Board members to the new Carolina Center. Dr. McGee would join them at the site to conduct a tour of the facility.
Chairman von Lehe again thanked the members for nominating and electing him as Chairman; he informed them that this Committee would be very active.
Since there were no other matters to come before the Committee, Chairman von Lehe declared the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary