The centerpiece is a high-field strength, 3 Tesla MagneticResonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, one of only two in the state, that will be used by USC researchers and Palmetto Health clinicians for clinical research and patient care. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) houses the state’s other 3T MRI scanner.
Kester S. Freeman Jr., Palmetto Health CEO, said, “This center is important not only because it is the only 3 Tesla MRI in the Midlands, or because it is a true partnership where researchers and clinicians are working together on clinical diagnoses to help our community now and in the future, but because it’s the first footprint of Health Sciences South Carolina. I believe that this is the first of many projects that will be brought to fruition through this remarkable collaborative vision.”USC President Andrew Sorensen said the new McCausland Center represents the very best of public and private partnerships. “The McCausland Center is an extraordinary example of private philanthropy and public and private investment working together to improve the health of South Carolinians,” Sorensen said. “A collaborative such as this is unprecedented in the history of our state. It is a shining example of what we accomplish when we meld talent, research knowledge, and public and private resources with a drive to improve the lives and health of South Carolinians.” Dr. Harris Pastides, USC vice president for research and health sciences, said the partnership will be a hub for research and economic development. “This partnership is unlike any other in South Carolina because it brings together public and private entities to maximize resources and create a momentum that will attract additional investment partners to advance our state economically and improve the lives of our citizens,” Pastides said. “The statewide center will be the impetus for an industrial cluster in the lucrative multidisciplinary field of brain imaging, integrating the intellectual resources of USC and MUSC with new physical resources so the two universities can compete internationally for funding, projects and people.” The 3T MRI is the most advanced technology of its kind in the world. The high-field magnet produces images with clarity and detail to a degree never before possible, resulting in increased diagnostic confidence and better patient outcomes. 3 T MRI also delivers the most comprehensive applications in the industry, providing unprecedented diagnostic capabilities for the assessment of anatomy, morphology, physiology and function. It can evaluate other conditions, including:
· Cardiac and vascular disease
· Musculoskeletal disorders
· Abdominal conditions
· Neurological conditions and more “Being able to pair researchers and clinicians to develop improved outcomes for patients is at the center of what we want to achieve, said Dr. Gordon Baylis, USC associate provost and director of the Statewide Brain Imaging Center of Economic Excellence. “To have a fabulous facility that encourages this collaboration between these groups is priceless.” Baylis said the potential for 3T in South Carolina is enormous, especially for stroke. “When someone has a heart attack, people don’t just accept that as something that can’t be corrected,” Baylis said. “They go out and find the best possible treatment to attempt to correct it. It should be the same way with stroke. With the high incidence of stroke in South Carolina, there could be so much more that we can do to improve a person’s diagnosis, clinical care and quality of life.” Health Sciences South Carolina was created in April 2004 to improve the health and economic well-being of the state through research and education. The founding partners include two of the state’s largest healthcare systems, Greenville Hospital System and Palmetto Health and two of the state’s research universities, MUSC and USC. HSSC has grown to include Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and Clemson University. More information about the Brain Imaging Center of Economic Excellence can be found at www.bicoee.org. | 
