WVSOM working to promote medical research opportunities in West Virginia

LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – Plans to increase medical research capabilities at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) have received financial support with a $6 million appropriation in the recently approved federal funding package.

West Virginia’s two U.S. senators, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, championed the $6 million appropriation to expand the school’s Fredric W. Smith Science Building, which house’s the school’s current research facility. U.S. Representative Carol Miller, R-W.Va., also voted for the federal funding package that included the WVSOM appropriation and a total of $138 million for 80 West Virginia projects.

The WVSOM project will provide approximately 15,000 square feet of additional space for modern research laboratories and clinical and translational science research. The project is expected to create 110 construction jobs in the county and 25 faculty and staff jobs on campus.

President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., said expanding and renovating the current research space is the initial phase of WVSOM’s plan to build out its research enterprise.

“This is a very exciting time for WVSOM. We are so grateful to Senators Manchin and Capito for their efforts and Representative Miller for her support. They understand the value of investing in medical education, research and students. This investment in our research enterprise will spark new efforts to address health equity, benefit our students when applying for residency programs, aid in the growth of our faculty recruitment and retainment, and serve as an economic engine for the school and southeastern West Virginia.

Nemitz said WVSOM’s research efforts continue to grow, adding that more news will be announced this summer. He noted that WVSOM is now a member of the West Virginia Biomedical Science Association and will join with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development at the 2024 Bio International Conference in June to highlight the growing biomedical research opportunities in West Virginia.

WVSOM is currently engaged in Biomedical, Translational and Clinical Research, Community Based Participatory Research and Public Health Research. The research facility expansion will fuel WVSOM’s ability to remain competitive with other medical schools across the state and nation and increase WVSOM’s medical and scientific influence.

Dovenia Ponnoth, Ph.D., leads the WVSOM biomedical research program and will represent WVSOM at the Bio International Conference. Ponnoth is the school’s associate dean for research and sponsored programs and is committed to outreach and working with biotechnology companies, investors, service providers, government officials and others at WVSOM’s new facilities.

“We are looking to grow our strengths in preclinical research into drug discovery and development, as well as clinical trials. Our faculty conduct research in cardiovascular diseases, new therapeutics from microbial products, vaccine development and lung diseases-all of which are vital to the health of West Virginians. The new funding influx will see us turn our vision for taking bench research to the people with impactful solutions, better trained physicians and scientists,” Ponnoth said.

Brian Hendricks, Ph.D., executive director for the WVSOM Center for Rural and Community Health (WVSOM, CRCH) and associate professor in Department of Clinical Sciences said, “These dollars will provide new opportunities to address the challenges West Virginians experience across the state, regardless of whether they live in Greenbrier, Boone, Clay, or Kanawha County.”

“The WVSOM, CRCH is already submitting large research grants National Institutes of Health and managing service awards from Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and West Virginia Bureau of Behavioral Health subrecipient funds from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). New infrastructure at WVSOM made possible by these appropriation dollars will increase our competitive edge in the federal grant arena,” Hendricks said.

Nemitz, Ponnoth and Hendricks will presentation an update on WVSOM’s research expansion at the WVBIO Summit on May 29 in Huntington.

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