Medical University of South Carolina names endowed chair

Medical University of South Carolina named Dr. Richard Swaja as endowed chair in Regenerative Medicine under the state’s Research Centers of Economic Excellence program. Swaja became seventh top-level researcher drawn to MUSC.

By investing in talent and technology, the Research Centers of Economic Excellence endowment is designed to help fuel the knowledge economy, resulting in higher paying jobs, a stronger economy, and an improved standard of living in South Carolina.

Swaja’s research will focus primarily on tissue engineering. Two specific projects by Swaja involve development of tissue engineering implants and development of scaffolds to support regenerated cells. The goal of the work is to reorganize cells to grow them into tissues and later into organs.

In addition to serving as endowed chair in Regenerative Medicine, Swaja has also been named to the complementary position of director of the S.C. Bioengineering Alliance. The alliance is a collaborative effort among all three of the state’s research universities: MUSC, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.

“I believe that South Carolina’s climate is ripe for a statewide bioengineering program. Fortunately, we are not starting at zero. We have good facilities and good people in place and we have already seen substantial research advancements here,” Swaja explained. “Our goal is to see bioengineering in South Carolina ‘do well’—to support the regional economy and develop meaningful scientific resources. At the same time, we want to see it ‘do good’—to improve healthcare and quality of life.”

The S.C. Research Centers of Economic Excellence program was established by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2002. The legislation authorizes the state’s three public research institutions to use S.C. Education Lottery funds to create centers of excellence in key research areas that will advance South Carolina’s economy. The state funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar with non-state monies in order to be used. The program supports COEE endowed professors, world-renowned scientists who lead the centers of excellence.