Medical University of South Carolina Joins the Guardian Research Network

New alliance introduces the first academic medical center to the consortium

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (FEBRUARY 21, 2024) – Guardian Research Network, Inc. (GRN) announced today that the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), the only comprehensive academic health system in the state, joined its nationwide consortium of healthcare organizations as the first academic medical center member. This strategic collaboration will augment GRN’s mission to expedite cure discovery and care improvements, as well as MUSC’s mission to fuel research, education, and innovative care for improved patient outcomes.

“Partnering with GRN will allow for greater insights through expanded benchmarking, increased collaboration with their network of researchers across the country and greater diversity of data, paving the way for our team to expand our innovative research efforts to other states,” said Patrick Cawley, M.D., CEO of MUSC Health and executive vice president for Health Affairs at the Medical University of
South Carolina.

The affiliation also contributes to GRN’s real-world data (RWD) that has the potential to improve the health of millions of patients across the country. GRN’s expansive pool of rich RWD is already used to pioneer discoveries in effective treatments for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. As this consortium grows with innovative healthcare organizations and leaders passionate about equal access to the highest level of care, GRN is well-positioned to transform the healthcare experience for patients across the nation.

“Adding a prestigious academic health system elevates the entire GRN network,” comments Bruce Holstien, GRN’s chief executive officer. “Their innovative leadership, clinical excellence and research expertise will add another dimension to our network as we all work together to create the next generation of care.”

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Patrick Cawley, M.D.
CEO of MUSC Health
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, MUSC

About Guardian Research Network

Guardian Research Network, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a nationwide consortium comprised of community healthcare organizations focused on advancing technology to accelerate cures and care improvements. GRN works within the life sciences industry and with its health system members to increase participation in data-driven research, optimize therapeutic and diagnostic studies and employ real-world data to improve patient access to precision medicines in underserved communities. For more information, visit www.guardianresearch.org.

About the Medical University of South Carolina

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 900 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $300 million in research funds in fiscal year 2023, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 16 hospitals (includes owned or governing interest), with approximately 2,700 beds and four additional hospital locations in development, more than 350 telehealth sites and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2023, for the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $5.9 billion. The nearly 26,000 MUSC family members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.

GRN Media Contact:
Jan Schmidt
jan@jairusmarketing.com

MUSC Media Contact:
Helen Adams
adamshel@musc.edu
843-792-5525