Preclinical Assessment Core (PAC)

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SUMMARY A major purpose of the COBRE South Carolina Center for Translational Research for Improving Musculoskeletal Health (SC-TRIMH) is to promote and enable research and innovation addressing bone and joint disorders for the improvement of patient care. Animal models and human cadaveric models are essential for verifying musculoskeletal research hypotheses, and are intrinsic to the pre-clinical assessment strategy for diagnostics and treatments, for novel technology evaluation, and for the verification of computational models. The mission of the Pre-clinical Assessment Core (PAC) is to provide mentoring and strategic planning to SC-TRIMH investigators for the use of live large animal models and/or human cadaver models in their musculoskeletal research programs. It provides the specialized facilities, expertise, and resources needed by SC-TRIMH investigators to further evaluate the potential of their in vitro advances into clinical practice. In COBRE Phase I, PAC has consolidated unique resources and expertise at Clemson University and the PRISMA Health System (PHS) into a comprehensive network of experts and services organized into two complementary thrusts: the Live Animal Modeling (LAM) and Human Cadaveric Modeling (HCM) thrusts. LAM includes state-of-art biomedical research and animal imaging facilities at the AAALAC-accredited Godley-Snell Research Center and the Clemson Farms enabling access to the full spectrum of animal models used in musculoskeletal research as well as flexibility for the development of novel models needed by SC-TRIMH investigators. Over the years, Clemson University, through its Bioengineering Department, has built an impressive portfolio of musculoskeletal innovative research using large animal models which laid the foundation for PAC capabilities in Phase I. The HCM thrust, located at the Clemson University Biomedical Engineering Innovation Campus (CUBEInC), includes the Bioskills Surgical Training and Innovation Center and other resources. As the health innovation hub for Clemson University since 2011, CUBEInC is located at the PRISMA Health System above orthopaedic patient clinics and physical therapy. In Phase I, PAC integrated into its training program, the CUBEInC's resources and expertise in technology development and maturation, as well as start-up company development and mentoring, further increasing awareness of SC-TRIMH investigators about the innovation cycle. The PAC leadership team consists of the thrusts' co-directors, both renowned clinicians and scientists, and a support group of facility managers, technical experts, and scientists. In Phase II, PAC will continue to provide technical mentoring and support to all SC-TRIMH investigators, especially those who do not have primary expertise in pre-clinical assessment, while progressing toward being the major translational resource for musculoskeletal researchers from across South Carolina and elsewhere. The specific aims of PAC are to 1) continue providing expertise and support for pre- clinical modeling, 2) continue serving as a facilitator for junior investigator pre-clinical research, and 3) further strengthen and enhance the in vivo and ex vivo pre-clinical research capability to support SC-TRIMH.