CHRB Awards $825,000 to Support Health-Related
Research at Virginia Public and Private Colleges & Universities
RICHMOND — Fulfilling its duty to support health-related research for the benefit all
Virginians, Commonwealth Health Research Board (CHRB) today announced over
$825,000 in competitive grant funding to 13 medical and health researchers at
public and private colleges from across Virginia. The higher education
institutions are: Eastern Virginia Medical School, James Madison University,
Sweet Briar College, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth
University, and Virginia Tech. These institutions are providing more than
$340,000 in matching funds in support of these grants.
"The citizens of Virginia will no doubt benefit from the long-term results of
this research," said Chairman Andrews, Chairman of CHRB. The Board is funding
research on magnetic resonance imaging of the lung and of atherosclerotic
plaque, early identification of shock, Alzheimer's disease, pain sensitivity,
treatment of mammary carcinoma, treatment of diabetes, molecular targets for
cancer therapy, herpesvirus DNA inhibitors, fetal liver development,
utilization of children's health services, and platelet formation. "These
diseases and disorders have significant consequences for hundreds of thousands
of Virginians and their families. We are hopeful that this latest round of
financial support will help enable significant advances in diagnosis and
treatment in each of these important health areas."
The Virginia General Assembly established in CHRB in 1997, and charged with
directing the use of the stock and cash distributed to the Commonwealth from
the conversion of Blue Cross and Blue Shield from a mutual insurance company to
a stock corporation. The Board awards grants for traditional medical and
biomedical research as well as research related to health services and the
delivery of health care. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
provides staff support to the CHRB.
This marked the third year that awards were made. The board received 32 grant
applications. Over six months, the board members carefully reviewed the many
excellent proposals. At their meeting today, they approved the 2001 grant award
recipients.
"It is extremely gratifying to see the success of our competitive grant program
this year," said Edward R. Parker, CHRB Vice Chairman. "The proposals selected
for funding have a tremendous potential to enhance the health and well-being of
our Commonwealth's citizens."
The list of researchers, their respective research institutions, and amounts
awarded is attached.
CHRB members are Hunter B. Andrews, Chairman, Hampton; Edward R. Parker, Vice
Chairman, Richmond; David L. Bernd, Norfolk; Robert P. McBride, III, Richmond;
R. Earl Nance, Richmond; Alson H. Smith, Jr., Winchester; and Jane H. Woods,
Fairfax.
