News
What’s Happening in Nutrition on the State and Local Level?
Dr. Mark DeLegge and part of his "team"
January 31, 2007 – Many nutrition-related directives have been established in South Carolina over the past four years. Starting in 2003, Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), the University of South Carolina (USC) and South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) launched a collaboration to focus on innovative research initiatives and outreach programs related to nutrition. This South Carolina Nutrition Research Consortium (SCNRC) is unique in that it draws on the complementary strengths and resources of South Carolina’s research universities, and can serve as a funding source for pilot projects, especially if the proposals involve collaboration between at least two of the three universities. (Visit http://www.scnrc.org.)
A second state-wide directive that may offer additional support in nutrition-related research and clinical care is Health Science South Carolina (HSSC). HSSC is a dynamic, statewide, public-private entity developed in 2004 that includes Clemson University, Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, Palmetto Health, MUSC, USC and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. This collaboration is already affecting change and achieving results that are necessary to transform the state’s economy and health status. (Visit http://www.healthsciencessc.org.)
Dr. Mark DeLegge speaks with patient
Not only has nutrition-related research recently been promoted on the state level, but campus-wide initiatives have also blossomed under the direction of Dr. Mark DeLegge, MD, Director, Section of Nutrition, Digestive Disease Center at MUSC.
Dr. DeLegge serves as the Chairman of the MUSC Hospital Nutrition Research Advisory Board, a committee developed in December 2005 to support the development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of multi-professional, hospital-based nutrition outcomes research that can result in improved quality of clinical care at lower costs. This group consists of members from Administration, Pediatrics, Basic Science, Adult Gastroenterology, Weight Management, Clinical Nutrition, Office of Research Development, Office of Special Initiatives, and Biostatistics & Epidemiology. Together, they support ongoing hospital-based nutritional research, advise on future research initiatives and identify potential funding sources.