Start Ups

MUSC recognizes that the translation of discoveries has a significant benefit for society and is an important component of our mission as an academic medical center.  Since 2014 over 70 startup companies have spun out of MUSC, and over half remain active today. Startups are an excellent approach to translate innovations into products and services for the public benefit and provide an engine for economic growth in the state. They also offer a means of commercialization that isn't always possible through licensing each technology separately.

MUSC’s portfolio of companies are advancing innovations in research, education, and heath care, including novel therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, biologicals, healthcare IT and services. Combined, MUSC startups have raised over $50 million dollars in financing.

A History of Success

MUSC has a history of creating groundbreaking technologies that have become a foundation for several successful companies. Three MUSC startups, Micrus, Taligen and Immunologix have achieved success in the form of multimillion dollar exits with Micrus’ MicruSphere 3D coil regularly used in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Other leading examples include:

ZIAN, the Zucker Institute of Applied Neurosciences – MUSC’s medical device accelerator that co-locates engineers with surgeons to solve unmet clinical needs. Established in 2012, ZIAN’s successes include 3 FDA approvals, 17 FDA patents and 6 exclusive agreements.

MST Services -   Using technology licensed from MUSC, MST uses Multisystemic Therapy, an intensive family- and community-based treatment intervention program for at-risk youths to get them back on track for a successful future. MST Services is in 15 countries and 34 states, and over 2,500 clinicians have been involved in treating 200,000 youths. 

Northern Speech Services – While not an MUSC startup, Northern Speech Services has expanded its success through the MUSC-developed Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile, MBSImPTM. Northern Speech Services has managed and distributed the MBSImP™ Training program to the field of Speech-Language Pathology since 2011. This comprehensive online training program teaches speech-language pathologists a standardized protocol used in assessment of patients who have swallowing disorders (dysphagia).  To date, nearly 7,000 speech-language pathologists in 25 countries have enrolled in this training course.  Additionally, more than 150 universities have adopted the MBSImP™ Training program into their curriculum for speech-language pathology graduate students.