About the Center

Vision

Building an interdisciplinary center dedicated to exploring the transformative application of emerging technologies to promote healthy lifestyles for every citizen of South Carolina and to those beyond its borders.

Mission

Fostering collaborations between scholars from multiple disciplines, innovative businesses, and community partners to design and evaluate technology-assisted lifestyle behavioral interventions that will improve the health, quality of life, and economic capacity of South Carolinians and people across the globe.

History

A SmartState Center

The Technology Center to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (TecHealth), is one of the fifty-one SmartState Centers in South Carolina. The prestigious SmartState Program was established in 2002 by the state’s General Assembly to improve the state’s economy and the quality of life of its citizens through the innovative work of world-class researchers. Housed within the state’s senior research universities, the SmartState Centers are supported through a match of public and private funding.

Establishment & Goals

The Technology Center to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (TecHealth), is dedicated to improving some of the most intractable health problems facing the state through the creation and application of technology that encourages healthy lifestyles. The inaugural director of TecHealth, Dr. Delia West, joined the Center in August 2013 and has established a growing team of research scholars, students and software specialists to carry out the Center’s mission.

Dr. West’s major area of interest and expertise is behavioral intervention for weight management with a focus on technology use to increase effectiveness and broaden access to evidence-based interventions for obesity treatment and prevention.

Obesity is linked to prevalent chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis and some cancers. Over 67% of South Carolina’s citizens are classified as overweight or obese and the state has some of the highest rates in the nation of obesity-associated diseases. In 2003, obesity-related medical costs were an estimated $1.06 billion in South Carolina. Given the high rate of obesity in South Carolina and its effect on the citizens, businesses and economy of South Carolina, it is, currently, a primary focus of TecHealth research.

With a thriving portfolio of research, educational and commercial projects, TecHealth continues to explore new and compelling technological solutions that will lead to a vibrant, healthy future for the people and the state of South Carolina.

SmartState Reports

All South Carolina SmartState Centers are required to prepare a yearly report summarizing their activities during the previous fiscal year. These reports are compiled by the SC Commission on Higher Education and submitted to the South Carolina State Legislature.

FY 2016-2017 Annual Report

FY 2015-2016 Annual Report

FY 2014-2015 Annual Report

FY 2013-2014 Annual Report