University News

George Mason University researcher Aarthi Narayanan recently secured a $1.4M grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to investigate how an infection spreads between organs, and how a therapeutic will impact connected organs. The work will initially focus on mosquito-transmitted viruses while Narayanan hopes to expand the implications from these studies to other human …

A startup company with roots at Virginia Commonwealth University has received a prestigious state grant that will accelerate its work in advancing DNA analysis. Now housed in incubator office space in the Richmond neighborhood of Scott’s Addition, Evizia is building on more than a decade of published research and grants tied to its husband-and-wife co-founders …

A senior business leader in the development and translation of biomedical science innovation through the commercialization pipeline has joined Virginia Tech to facilitate the growth of the academic health sciences research enterprise through building strategic industry partnerships and facilitating commercialization of discoveries. Sally Allain, formerly the head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation JLABS @ Washington, …

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University could soon launch a clinical trial to test an intravenous solution that its inventor, a School of Medicine physiologist and surgery professor, says might treat massive blood loss in trauma patients. Perfusion Medical Inc., a VCU startup working to commercialize the drug called PM-208, has received $1.8 million from the …

An accomplished biomedical engineer who studies the biophysical setting of brain cancer has been named director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC’s Cancer Research Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Jennifer Munson will organize the institute’s Cancer Research Center in Roanoke, while closely collaborating with its Cancer Research Center in Washington, D.C., said Michael Friedlander, Virginia Tech’s vice …

Old Dominion University and Eastern Virginia Medical School are joining forces in an effort to grow local medical talent where there’s a great public need. Together EVMS and ODU are now the Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU. The merger creates the largest health sciences program in the Commonwealth. Come July 1, …

The funding will help develop new tools in imaging technology using a light source that is five times better than white light for identifying and visualizing bruising across all skin tones for use by forensic nurses, social service providers, and law enforcement. “This single largest gift to support research in the College of Public Health’s …

A research team at VCU Health is leading a clinical trial to assess a novel treatment for fecal incontinence or sudden loss of control over bowel movements. The therapy involves implanting a bioengineered sphincter derived from the patient’s native cells to help them regain control of their bowels. The implantation surgery for the clinical trial …

Governor Youngkin has announced that Virginia will make a significant investment to launch a biotechnology, life sciences, and pharmaceutical manufacturing network to foster collaboration among three of the Commonwealth’s major existing university research institutions. In his upcoming biennial budget, scheduled to be released on December 20th, the Governor will include a total of $90 million …

The U.S. Department of Energy has just announced the selection of Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility as the lead for its new High Performance Data Facility Hub. Jefferson Lab will partner with DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to form a joint project team led by Jefferson Lab. The HPDF will be a $300-500 million computing …

Three Virginia research universities have made the National Academy of Inventors’ new list ranking the nation’s universities that were granted the most patents in 2022. The University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University each made the list released Aug. 30, ranking 43rd, 86th and 91st respectively. U.Va. had 52 patents issued in …

A foundation established by the estate of Richmond philanthropist Bill Goodwin‘s late son, Hunter, has made a $50 million commitment to support cancer and neuroscience research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech announced Tuesday. The gift is one of three record $50 million donations Virginia Tech has received, including the 2018 …

According to a new study published by George Mason University  researchers Dr. Robin Couch and Dr. Allyson Dailey, in collaboration with researchers at the  U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), showed probiotics may play a pivotal role in preventive  medicine. High fat diets are a leading cause of obesity and can trigger the onset of metabolic …

Azim Eskandarian, D.Sc., has been named dean and William H. Goodwin Jr. Endowed Chair of the VCU College of Engineering, effective Aug. 1. Eskandarian currently serves as department head and Nicholas and Rebecca des Champs Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. “Azim Eskandarian has established himself as a highly …

The NOVA Biotechnology and Leadership in Education (NOBLE) Project will be funded by the National Science Foundation with more than $550,000 over the next three years. The goal of the NOBLE Project is to revitalize and grow the biotechnology program. The NOBLE Project seeks to recruit students throughout the entire NOVA service area, particularly minorities …

Virginia Western Community College and Radford University will sign an articulation agreement during a signing ceremony on Monday, May 1, on Virginia Western Campus, that will result in a cost-effective transition for students focusing on the field of biotechnology. Virginia Western students completing the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Science with a specialization in …

Musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) is the most common form of medical injury experienced by Service members. Clinical interventions for MSKIs lack objective measures to determine their effectiveness, putting affected military personnel at risk of further damage if they return to duty  before fully recovering. George Mason University bioengineer Dr. Parag Chitnis, an associate professor in the …

During the past several years, industry demand for a skilled life science workforce has been surging. In Virginia, while there are currently shortages in almost all health-related professions, little is known about whether there is an adequate supply of life science workers to meet the needs of employers. Now George Mason University is working toward …

Kevin Leslie will be Old Dominion University’s first associate vice president for innovation and commercialization, the Norfolk-based university announced Friday. Leslie will improve ODU’s technology transfer operation to better identify, develop and market faculty, staff and student intellectual property and startups. He also will lead federal and other grant applications related to innovation and ecosystem …

Fairfax, VA –  Deployed military personnel frequently face numerous health and safety hazards as part of their daily activities in service to their nation. Among many dangers is the possibility of encountering hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs), a group of highly infectious pathogens such as the Ebola virus. Many of these diseases do not currently have …

George Mason University will launch a new program to catalyze the growth of the nanotechnology industry in Northern Virginia, thanks to $3.75 million in grants. The Fairfax institution is receiving $2.5 million for the initiative through Go Virginia Region 7, the local chapter of the commonwealth-funded initiative led by the Virginia Department of Housing and …

Virginia Tech’s Advancement Division recently added Martha Quinn to its team as assistant vice president of advancement for health sciences and technology and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. Quinn, who started on Sept. 20, previously served as executive director of development at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center. Prior to that, she was …

Virginia Commonwealth University is working on the development of a potential treatment for Covid-19. Michael Peters, Ph.D., a professor in VCU’s Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, is leading the research. Peters said he works everyday in response to the pandemic, which led him to the discovery of a possible lifesaving novel peptide therapeutic …

Tiny Cargo Co., a biotech startup founded by Rob Gourdie, professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, is among five companies to receive a Washington, DC Health Innovation QuickFire Challenge award. Spencer Marsh, a postdoctoral researcher in Gourdie’s laboratory, presented the pitch that awarded the company $50,000, the opportunity to reside at JLABS @ Washington, D.C. with …