Clemson – MUSC Bioengineering Program Overview

Background:

In the fall of 2003, a joint bioengineering research and research training program was established based on a formal agreement between Clemson University (CU) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).  The partnership provides comprehensive translational and clinical research opportunities for Clemson bioengineering faculty and students and expanded research and graduate degree opportunities at MUSC.   The CU-MUSC Bioengineering Program is a manifestation of growing education and research partnerships between Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina which are dedicated to excellence in education, to multi-disciplinary biomedical research, and to the clinical translation of its outcomes.

Mission:

The goal of our program is to bridge the physical, engineering, and computational sciences with the life sciences to enable understanding of fundamental biological and disease processes, the application of engineering principles to biological systems, advances in healthcare through translational research, and education and training of a highly-competent and resourceful biomedical research workforce for the future.

History:

Since it’s inception in 1963, the Department of Bioengineering at Clemson University has been a pioneer in the field with a particular emphasis on biomaterials research. With the rapid growth of the program due to the emergence of diverse sub-research areas (particularly regenerative medicine and tissue engineering), multi-disciplinary approaches have become extremely important for translating basic research into innovative solutions to high-priority biomedical and clinical challenges. In an effort to combine institutional strengths and provide the basis for long-term dialogue and collaboration between engineers at Clemson and basic scientists and clinicians at the MUSC, the CU-MUSC Bioengineering Program was established in the Fall of 2003. Since its inception, the program has grown to its current level of four primary faculty from Clemson University who are permanently located and conduct their research full-time on the MUSC campus in Charleston, SC, and about twenty basic science and clinical faculty from the MUSC who hold adjunct appointments in the program.   There are presently twelve Clemson bioengineering graduate students on the MUSC campus who take courses in Charleston and by videoconferencing

Research:

Collaborations have been established in ten departments at MUSC in areas involving cancer, heart disease, orthopedics, dentistry, cell biology, ophthalmology, neurosciences, pharmacology, biochemistry, and surgery.  Bioengineering sub-disciplines encompassed by these efforts include biomaterials, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, computer modeling and simulation, biotransport and constitutive modeling, and imaging,    These collaborations have resulted in (l) clinical lectures and seminars for bioengineers; (2) bioengineering seminars for clinicians; (3) joint research projects; (4) collaborative publications in scientific journals; and (5) abstracts/poster presentation  at conferences.  Research projects are supported by the NIH, NSF, biomedical research and disease foundations, and industry. 

Education:

In parallel with its research thrusts, the CU-MUSC Program pursues educational goals aimed at developing a unique class of bioengineers trained to understand and respond to emerging biological and healthcare challenges. The graduate-only program offers its students (MS and PhD) unique opportunities to pursue bioengineering research and education at a medical institution with access to clinical research and training resources and personnel.  Clemson bioengineering students and inter-disciplinary MUSC students can complete required and elective bioengineering courses, taught locally by primary and adjunct faculty and through videoconferencing from participating faculty in the parent Bioengineering Department at Clemson. In addition, the students can enroll in basic science and clinical MUSC electives for full transfer credit. The graduate educational experience at the CU-MUSC Program offers the advantages of personalized graduate education with its small faculty-to-student ratios and a curriculum designed with strong clinical/translational emphasis.

With regard to joint education opportunities, MD/PhD and DMD/PhD programs are available with the PhD in bioengineering from Clemson and the MD or DMD from MUSC.  All opportunities associated with the CU-MUSC Bioengineering Program are open to MUSC students.

More Information:

To learn more about the CU-MUSC Bioengineering Program, contact the Program Office at MUSC or the Clemson Bioengineering Department. We look forward to hearing from you!