MUSC’s affiliated not for profit research foundation, the MUSC Foundation for Research Development (FRD) interfaces with industry in the area of technology transfer. These activities result in a contribution to MUSC’s overall economic impact for our state and nationally. Most importantly, by collaborating with industry, cutting edge discoveries have the opportunity to become real life solutions to today’s medical problems. FRD has served as MUSC’s technology transfer office since 1995, filing over 200 new patent applications, had over 50 US patents issued, and spawned over 30 startups. MUSC startups have had product approved by the FDA, been acquired by publically traded corporations, attracted substantial investment dollars into our state, and continue to create high paying jobs.