As one of South Carolina’s SmartState Centers, the Center for Advancing Chronic Care Outcomes through Research and Innovation (ACORN) focuses on innovative, multidisciplinary research to improve health and quality of life among people with chronic conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six in 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic condition and four in 10 have two or more chronic diseases. Chronic conditions result in significant morbidity, are the leading cause of death in the U.S., and account for 90% of the nation’s $3.3 trillion in annual health care expenses.