HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has been awarded a five-year, $21 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue the West Virginia IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE), now entering its 24th year. 

Since its inception, WV-INBRE has secured more than $92 million in funding for West Virginia, significantly strengthening the state's biomedical research infrastructure and capacity. Marshall University serves as the lead institution, collaborating with West Virginia University and 14 other colleges and universities across the state to implement this initiative. 

“Advancing biomedical research is essential for fostering innovation in healthcare and enhancing the health outcomes of our communities,” said David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), vice president of health affairs and dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. “A robust research infrastructure allows us to develop solutions to complex diseases, attract and train the next generation of scientists and physicians and foster collaboration across institutions. By investing in this infrastructure, we are empowering our faculty and students to lead groundbreaking research that can shape the future of medicine and address the pressing health challenges of our time.”  

West Virginia is one of 23 states, along with Puerto Rico, eligible for Institutional Development Award (IDeA) funding through NIH’s INBRE program. INBRE is designed to bolster biomedical research by supporting faculty, expanding research opportunities and providing critical resources for undergraduate students in participating states. The program fosters a collaborative research network, linking research-intensive institutions with primarily undergraduate institutions to enhance statewide biomedical research infrastructure. 

“WV-INBRE has brought about a transformative shift in West Virginia's undergraduate institutions in which biomedical research is now an integral part of the academic culture,” said Gary O. Rankin, Ph.D., vice dean of basic sciences at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and principal investigator of the grant. “Faculty across both undergraduate and professional programs are committed to fostering research environments that engage students and encourage them to consider careers in biomedical fields.” 

With this new funding, Marshall University and its WV-INBRE partners will focus on cellular and molecular biology, with particular attention to chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity-related illnesses and addiction. A new initiative with the Puerto Rico INBRE will promote student exchanges and research collaborations in searching for new therapeutics from natural products. 

WV-INBRE offers numerous research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, including a 9-week summer research program, the Health Sciences & Technology Academy (HSTA) Scholar initiative, and a developmental research project program aimed at enhancing research skills and preparing students for careers in health-related research. High school science teachers in HSTA, as well as faculty fellows from partner institutions, will also have access to summer research opportunities at the lead institutions. The program supports professional development through workshops, seminars and mentoring, and provides access to cutting-edge core facilities to advance the science and technology workforce in West Virginia. 

“Engaging students in research not only enhances their academic experience but also makes them more competitive applicants for graduate, pharmacy and medical schools, as well as other professional programs,” Rankin added. 

For more information on WV-INBRE, visit wv-inbre.net. 

Date Posted: Monday, September 23, 2024