Contact Information
Available for logged-in reporters only
Newswise MORGANTOWN, W.Va. With the help of a major federal grant, West Virginia University is bolstering its faculty and scientific research on stroke to mitigate the devastating effects of the disease across the state and the nation.
The grant of $10.7 million over the next five years, including more than $2.1 million this year, will have a transformational effect on basic and translational stroke research at WVU. The funding will enhance mentoring and development of five junior investigators and their research programs as well as support core resources.
The American Heart Association ranks stroke as the fourth highest killer in the nation and one of the leading causes of long-term disability. The burden of stroke is particularly heavy in West Virginia, with the state having one of the highest incidence rates in the country.
Risk factors of stroke and stroke itself affect a lot of people with particular prevalence in Appalachian populations. These populations are seeing stroke events occur at younger ages and with longer-lasting effects, Jim Simpkins, Ph.D., director of the WVU Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research (CBTSR) and professor in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, said.
We are being presented with an opportunity to make a significant impact on the quality of life for stroke patients. The discoveries that our faculty make about when and how these events happen can minimize poor outcomes from stroke and help patients recover quickly so they can return to their families and live normal lives.
COBRE, which stands for Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence, is a program of the National Institute for General Medical Sciences focused on enhancing research and mentoring of young faculty members. This is the third COBRE grant awarded at WVU.
Its no secret that stroke is a major problem in West Virginia, Glen H. Dillon, Ph.D., vice president for Health Sciences Research and Graduate Education, said. Receipt of this competitively earned NIH grant will ensure WVU continues to be a leader in conducting cutting-edge research focused on stroke.
Dr. Simpkins explained that the West Virginia Stroke COBRE will support a key part of CBTSR. WVU is unique because it has the capability to address bench (laboratory research), bedside (clinical research), and community (outreach) issues in stroke.
See the original post here:
NIH Grants WVU $10.7 Million for Stroke Research