Scientific Director:
Roger R. Markwald, Ph.D.
Chair, Dept of Cell Biology & Anatomy Medical University of South Carolina
   
Endowed Chair Holder in Stem Cell Technologies:
Richard E. Swaja, Ph.D.
Medical University of South Carolina

  
  
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Endowed Chair Holder in Cardiovascular Health:
Martin Morad, Ph.D.
University of South Carolina

Tissue engineering, often called “regenerative medicine,” is the regeneration or remodeling of tissue and organs for the purpose of repairing, replacing, maintaining or enhancing organ function; and the engineering and growing of functional tissue substitutes in vitro for implantation in vivo as a biological replacement for damaged or diseased tissues and organs. 

The Center for Regenerative Medicine will combine and expand existing expertise in SC in developmental biology, adult stem cell technology, and tissue engineering into a center that will have the potential to change the way that medicine is practiced, and in so doing, create growth industries that will implement the potential of engineering new tissues and organs.

MUSC, USC, and Clemson will each have a major research initiative to be led by an Endowed Chair.  Individually, the initiatives will conduct cutting edge research; combined, they will form the backbone for current as well as future medical devices and enable the development of a formally organized center.  The initiatives are:

      » Stem Cell Technologies at MUSC
      » Developmental Biology at USC
      » Biomaterials and Custom Tissue and Scaffolding Fabrication at Clemson
  

   
Photos from the press conference announcing Dr. Morad's appointment.

   
Inception:
2003

Funding:
$12 million