By James T. Hammond
SCBIZ Daily Staff

COLUMBIA -- The University of South Carolina’s stature as a top-tier research institution rose over the past year, as external grant funding for research increased 11% from $185.7 million to $206 million.

It was the first year such highly-sought-after funding topped $200 million and it set a new record for the university.

Rosemarie Booze, interim vice president for research, said a still-small but fast-growing segment of those funds went to projects and researchers at the university’s regional campuses in Beaufort, Aiken and Spartanburg. That funding jumped to almost $7 million, up from $3.5 million.

“We are working with them to increase their research capabilities,” she said.

University researchers also substantially increased funding from the National Science Foundation. Grants rose to $16 million from $11 million, an almost 50% increase in “a very tight and competitive funding environment,” Booze said.

The Alternative Medicine Center in the School of Medicine received its first-year funding. The center will investigate new approaches to curing cancer.

President Harris Pastides, who took office Aug. 1, rose to his new post from the position of vice president for research and health sciences. He has restructured that post as vice president for research and economic development and turned supervision of health sciences over the Provost Mark Becker.

Pastides will conduct a nationwide search for a new vice president in charge of research, he said.

Read more about the direction of USC under new President Harris Pastides in the Aug.25 issue of the Columbia Regional Business Report.

Reach James T. Hammond at 803-401-1094 ext. 201.