Winthrop University INBRE II Molecular Biomedical Research Initiative July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2015
Winthrop Press Release 1
Winthrop Press Release 2

Improving citizens' health represents a major need for South Carolina. The State ranks fifth in the nation for stroke deaths, third in cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths, and seventh in ischemic heart disease deaths. South Carolina also has some of the highest cancer rates in the nation, ranking in the top 10 nationwide for five to 10 different types of cancer with perhaps the highest prostate cancer mortality rate of any state. Particularly hard-hit are African American South Carolinians, for whom CVD illnesses result in ten years of lost life and for whom prostate and lung cancer incidences are 50 to 60 percent higher than national averages.

In recognition of these major human health concerns and as one of South Carolina's largest and most diversified primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), Winthrop University is establishing a nationally distinctive biomedical research program. Over the next five years, Winthrop University will receive nearly $2.6 million from the National Institutes of Health to make continued progress toward attainment of this strategic goal. Winthrop's INBRE II team includes ten chemistry and biochemistry faculty (Calloway, Grattan, Grossoehme, Hanna, Harris, Hurlbert, Lammi, Owens, Snyder, & Sumter).

INBRE I Outcomes at Winthrop University

INBRE I radically transformed undergraduate biomedical science research at Winthrop as well as the entire research culture on campus. During the decade prior to INBRE, less than $10,000 in NSF or NIH research funds were awarded to Winthrop science faculty. During the 2005-2010 INBRE I grant period, chemistry and biochemistry faculty were awarded neary $1 million in extramural non-INBRE funding. These grants included Winthrop's first-ever award of an NIH-AREA grant (Sumter PI), Winthrop's first-ever award of a major NSF-RUI grant (Lammi PI), and Winthrop's first-ever award of an NSF-MRI grant (Hurlbert PI). During the INBRE I period, 20 Winthrop chemistry and biochemistry students have entered PhD programs as an outcome of their undergraduate research. Coupled with these successes were significant Winthrop investments in research equipment and facility infrastructure, dramatically expanded student involvement in biomedical research, creation of Winthrop's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) led by chemisry faculty, and Winthrop student matriculation into PhD programs at unprecedented rates.

INBRE II Strategic Approach at Winthrop

Building on INBRE I successes, Winthrop is focusing on three new strategic initiatives during 2010-2015:

• Demonstrate INBRE I sustainability at Winthrop University by internally supporting five biomedical research projects led by former INBRE target faculty.
• Further expand biomedical research capacity by adding five target faculty-led research projects.
• Staff and implement a science diversity initiative to recruit, educate, and train even greater numbers of students from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups for biomedical graduate research programs.