Center for Global Health announces 4 pilot grant awards

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Center for Global Health is pleased to announce the 2024-25 recipients of its global health faculty pilot grant awards. This year’s awardees are leading projects that will improve maternal and child health, disability access, infectious disease treatment, and palliative care in Ethiopia, Togo, Uganda, and Eswatini.

The principal investigators for each of the projects funded are Carrie Cormack, DNP, associate professor at the College of Nursing; Cynthia Dodds, PT, Ph.D., professor at the College of Health Professions; Mulugeta Gebregziabher, Ph.D., professor at the College of Medicine; and Richard Lueking, M.D., assistant professor at the College of Medicine.

“These awards provide MUSC faculty with the opportunity to launch impactful global health research while building a foundation for securing competitive external funding,” said Michael Sweat, Ph.D., the center’s faculty director. “By tackling pressing health concerns, these projects will contribute to sustainable solutions that improve lives and strengthen healthcare systems in resource-limited settings.”

This year’s pilot grant awardees and the projects they will pursue are:

Project title: Global Collaborative Palliative Care Nursing Education Initiative

• Principal investigator: Carrie Cormack, DNP
• Project award: $20,000
• Location: Eswatini, Africa
• Project objective: Recognizing the urgent need for palliative care training in Eswatini, this initiative will enhance nursing education and clinical capacity at the Good Shepherd College of Health Sciences. Through faculty training, curriculum development, and cross-institutional clinical collaborations, the project aims to improve palliative care delivery and patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.

Project title: Examining the Acceptability of In-country Wheelchair for Ugandan Children and Adults with Disabilities

• Principal investigator: Cynthia Dodds, PT, Ph.D.
• Project award: $20,000
• Location: Masindi, Uganda
• Project objective: This study will compare the user experience and durability of a locally manufactured wheelchair, the Kyaninga model, to the imported RoughRider wheelchair in Uganda. By assessing mobility-related quality of life, maintenance needs, and long-term usability, the project aims to inform sustainable solutions that increase wheelchair access and improve independence for individuals with disabilities.

Project title: Using Mobile Ultrasound Technology for Early Detection of High-Risk Pregnancies to Improve Maternal and Child Health Outcomes: Pilot Study in Tigray Region of Ethiopia

• Principal investigator: Mulugeta Gebregziabher, Ph.D.
• Project award: $20,000
• Location: Tigray Region of Ethiopia, Africa
• Project objective: This project will introduce mobile ultrasound technology to the Tigray region of Ethiopia, aiming to detect high-risk pregnancies early and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. By training healthcare providers to use portable ultrasound devices and integrating remote image interpretation, the study seeks to reduce preventable pregnancy-related complications in a post-conflict region where healthcare infrastructure remains fragile.

Project title: Feasibility and effectiveness of standard World Health Organization-recommended treatment in a community setting for Buruli ulcer in Togo: a prospective pilot study

• Principal investigator: Richard Lueking, M.D.
• Project award: $20,000
• Location: Southern Togo, Africa
• Project objective: To improve access to treatment for Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease that causes debilitating skin ulcers, this project will evaluate the feasibility of a community-based care model in Togo. By integrating portable PCR diagnostics and training local healthcare workers, the initiative will provide more timely diagnosis and treatment while reducing the burden of travel for affected patients in rural areas.

Since 2013, MUSC has been providing funding to early-stage research projects in global health with the Global Health Pilot Grants to catalyze new initiatives and build bridges between disciplines.
The University has funded more than 30 projects for faculty members seeking to jump-start their research, which has generated more than $18 million in subsequent external funding for the work to continue. Through this grant program, the Center for Global Health helps the faculties from all six colleges to build and expand global partnerships with leading universities, government agencies and community and nongovernmental organizations.

For a complete list of previous awardees, please click here.