Students work to complete research of slain USC professor

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A group of students at the University of South Carolina are working to continue the cancer research of their slain mentor.

The State of Columbia reported Friday (http://bit.ly/1BhXyEa) that the former students and peers of Raja Fayad are seeking ways to complete his important research into the causes of colon cancer.

Fayad’s ex-wife shot him numerous times at the Columbia campus of Feb. 5 before taking her own life. Fayad and his graduate students were examining the impact of diet, exercise and obesity on the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

Fayad had published dozens of papers on the subject in peer review journals. His former students hope to publish more with his name on them. Fayad came to USC as an associate professor in 2008.