July 23, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce Grant for Marshall University Academic Research Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, along with Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin (all D-W.Va.), Tuesday announced Federal funding has been awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Marshall University for arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin diseases research.

"In southern West Virginia, we are so fortunate to have world-class leading-edge research programs, such as this one at Marshall, working to identify potential treatments of injuries and debilitating diseases that affect young and old alike in our state," said Rahall. "As budgets tighten, we must not waiver in our investments in academic research at centers of higher learning that are leading the way to better understanding diseases and developing breakthrough technologies to improve the health and quality of life of our citizens."

“This investment in improving surgical techniques has the potential to help the hundreds of thousands of individuals who suffer from this injury. It will lead to better treatment and recovery, which is important for hardworking West Virginians,” said Rockefeller. “Giving Marshall University funding to perform this cutting-edge research will enrich their education and allow them to impact the health and well-being of so many Americans.”

"Providing West Virginia's colleges and universities with funding for research is one of the ways we invest in our future and attract the best and the brightest students," said Manchin. "I applaud Marshall University's leadership and their commitment to discovering new and innovative ways to treat and prevent diseases."

Marshall University will receive a $293,000 Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) from NIH's National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases for a research project to develop a method that may improve surgical repair of rotator cuff injuries. Rotator cuff repair is one of the most common shoulder surgeries in the United States, with some 300,000 procedures performed annually.


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