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SCRA SELECTS TWO GREENVILLE, SC LEADERS FOR KNOWLEDGE ECONOMIST HONORS

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center Physician and Greenville Businessman Recognized for Contributions

GREENVILLE, SC, June 27, 2007 – To promote the growth of the Knowledge Economy in South Carolina and throughout the nation, SCRA® has recognized two leaders for their contributions to South Carolina’s burgeoning Knowledge Economy, which creates high-salaried technology jobs, nurtures new ventures and capital investment, and builds equity in a globalized future.

“Part of SCRA’s role in its dedication to this state’s and this nation’s Knowledge Economy is to recognize those outstanding citizens in our society who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the Knowledge Economy,” SCRA CEO and SC Launch! Acting President Bill Mahoney said. “The hope of this state’s financial strength is pinioned on a robust and vigorous Knowledge Economy, where the value of the mind shapes the successful profile of progress and great prospects for the future.”

The two leaders were Sam Konduros, SK Strategies president, and Larry Gluck, M.D, medical director of the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center’s oncology programs.

SCRA’s Mahoney drew on classical roots for his inspiration in creating the SCRA awards: “In history, economists have held multi-faceted roles in our society. They explored the unknown in Homer’s “Odyssey” …they have created societal structures for transactions…they have even invented money and were responsible for creating the first Greek coins. Aristotle once described economists as researchers of ‘the science which has as (its) purpose to help the people to increase their revenue.’ ”

SCRA dedicates itself to collaborating to shape the Knowledge Economy in South Carolina. Since its inception, SCRA has had a total economic impact of more than $6.9

billion and has created more than 15,000 jobs. According to a university study, SCRA’s sustaining contribution should reach annually at least $1.2 billion.

Dave McNamara, SCRA Vice President and SC Launch! Director, recognized the two leaders at the June 27 announcement of the SC Launch!™ investment in CreatiVasc Medical, a South Carolina-based medical device company that specializes in vascular technologies designed to improve the quality of life for dialysis patients. CreatiVasc Medical was accepted as a Portfolio Company by SC Launch! and has received $200,000 for further expansion.

SCRA praised Konduros and Gluck as Knowledge Economists with these words:

Larry Gluck, M.D earned his M.D. degree at the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh. Dr. Gluck completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Duke University Medical Center. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Gluck is Medical Director of the Oncology Program and the Greenville Memorial Hospital. medical director of   Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center’s oncology programs.  Under his guidance, GHS and Cancer Centers of the Carolinas entered into landmark collaboration in 2002 to build the programs to support a nationally recognized Cancer Center of Excellence. The partnership led to the development of the state’s first and most comprehensive Phase 1 Oncology Clinical Research Unit, which brings to the Upstate promising drugs and therapies only available at select locations throughout the country. GHS’ Oncology Research Institute also continues to develop innovative treatments, such as a promising vaccine for skin cancer and a more convenient way to combat thyroid cancer. Under Dr. Gluck, the GHS Cancer Center has grown to offer the region’s broadest array of cancer specialists, with approximately 30 oncologists in disciplines such as medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgical oncology.  

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About SCRA  

SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with offices in Anderson, Charleston, and Columbia. SCRA collaborates to advance technology with industry, government and research universities like Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. For more information please visit www.scra.org.  

About SC Launch!  

SC Launch!, an SCRA collaboration, assists entrepreneurial start-up companies with up-front counseling, seed-funding, and access to a powerful resource network. The SC Launch! mission is to help generate knowledge economy jobs in South Carolina, enhance the state’s quality of life and provide opportunity for all South Carolinians in the new economy. For more information please visit www.sclaunch.org.  

SC Launch! is a trademark TM of SC Launch!, Inc. SCRA ® is a registered trademark ® of SCRA.