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Biometrics program gets $9 million from feds(Charleston Gazette, The (WV) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jun. 8--A coalition of three West Virginia universities will receive a record $9 million in funding for research from the federal government, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., announced Wednesday. The money will help the state develop the next generation of biometrics research, such as instant DNA tests or tiny devices that can deliver medicine directly to cancer cells. The money comes from a federal program called the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which targets research funds to small states. Rockefeller has fought to expand the program and recently added language to a bill to increase EPSCoR funding. "This $9 million represents an enormous infusion to the various research efforts at WVU, Marshall and West Virginia State University," Rockefeller said. "EPSCoR grants benefit all of West Virginia, because they improve our state's competitiveness in research and development, and they encourage job growth." The $9 million in federal funds will be matched with $4.5 million in state lottery funds that are set aside for academic research, said Paul Hill, director of research for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The money will allow WVU to hire 11 new researchers and Marshall an additional two researchers. Faculty members at West Virginia State also are taking part in the collaboration. Students will benefit from the new research opportunities, too, Hall said. They will be invited to take part in cutting-edge projects on biometrics. The state competed with 11 others and was one of only two applicants to receive full funding, Hall said. West Virginia already is a leader in biometrics, Hall said. But the current research has focused mostly on physiology -- machines that can identify people by their eyes or fingerprints, for example. The Next Generation Biometrics project will take genetic recognition down to the molecular level, Hall said. Teams of chemists, molecular biologists, computer scientists and physicists will work together on several projects. They might find ways to create DNA tests that are instantaneous. The work has obvious homeland security uses but also could create a revolution in medicine, he said. Also, scientists could work on ways to diagnose and treat illness at the cellular level. For example, tiny new devices could someday find the exact placement of cancer cells in the body and deliver medication just to them, Hall said. The federal and state funds are seed money, Hall said. Researchers also will raise their own research funds. Since 2001, West Virginia has received about $8 million from EPSCoR, while faculty members at the state's universities have brought in an additional $60 million in other grants. That's a lot more than previous years, but less than most other states. For example, Tennessee researchers brought in $400 million in the same period, Hall said. "This is the future of the West Virginia economy," Hall said. "We are growing our technical and research population." To contact staff writer Scott Finn, use e-mail or call 357-4323. |