Duke Endowment $11 million grant aids health data

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Duke Endowment is providing an $11 million grant to a South Carolina health care group to help researchers pool medical data and improve patient care.

Health Sciences South Carolina, which is composed of several hospitals and universities in the state, was presented with the grant Wednesday in Columbia.

Endowment officials say the grant will allow researchers to gather large amounts of medical information from clinical studies. They will be able to analyze that information and determine how doctors may help patients deal with ailments such as diabetes, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis.

Health Sciences South Carolina includes Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina, and hospital systems in Greenville, Columbia, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greenwood and Florence.