Posted 6/17/2008

Research projects by Drs. Pate, Carson, and Herbert
pace school's increase

The Arnold School's grant and contract award income is up nearly $1 million over last year, school officials say.

The total on both continuing and new awards stands at $20,711,359 this summer compared to $19,739,360 on July 1, 2007.

Officials say the increase is encouraging at a time when winning funding support has become increasingly competitive.

In the case of the National Institutes of Health, a major funding source, only 15 percent of grant applications gain funding.

Pacing the school's $971,999 increase were grants to three researchers:

• Dr. Russ Pate, professor in the Department of Exercise Science, will test a multi-component intervention designed to increase physical activity in 3-5 year-old children.
• Dr. Jim Carson, associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science, will study the role of systemic IL-6 signaling for the regulation of severe muscle wasting.
• Dr. James Herbert, director of the S.C. Cancer Prevention and Control Program, will conduct a church-based program to encourage colon cancer screening and treatment in the African American community.

Pate and Carson's studies are supported under the NIH's R01 program. Herbert's study is identified as a R24 study. All three are considered top quality research efforts.