Some exciting announcements on steps forward in West Virginia’s quest to become a more significant player in university research. As many of you are aware, a strong R&D infrastructure is critical to economic growth in today’s innovation economy.

First, WVU unveiled its new Health Sciences Learning Center and the WVU Erma Byrd Biomedical Research Center. According to the State Journal, the $42 million facility will house the Sensory Neurosciences Research Center, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Cardiovascular Sciences and researchers from the School of Pharmacy. In 2009-10 it will also house the Multiple Sclerosis and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Center.

Not to be outdone, our state’s second major research institution, Marshall University, has brought their integrated research leader on board, Dr. Eric Kmiec.In January 2009, he will join Marshall University as the first Director and Lead Research Scientist for the Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (MIIR). Dr. Kmiec will be responsible for assembling the team of interdisciplinary research scientists who will comprise the core of the Institute.

From WV Public Broadcasting’s WV Morning show, where you can listen to an interview with Dr. Kmiec:

He is currently a Professor of Biology at the University of Delaware and Director of Applied Genomics at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute.  He is also a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of OrphageniX, Inc., an innovative biotechnology company focused on correcting genes that cause “orphan diseases.”

He is widely recognized as a pioneer of gene repair, a technique in which synthetic DNA molecules are used to patch or repair mutations in human chromosomes.  He has trained numerous post docs and graduate students in the field of molecular medicine.

Dr. Kmiec is the recipient of numerous research and community service awards.  Research in his laboratory is supported through funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), private research foundation and the State of Delaware. He is the owner of more than 60 issued patents or patent applications and  founded several biotechnology companies, is a Managing Editor of Frontiers in Bioscience, and has recently joined the editorial board of Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.