( Bluefield)—Dr. Tesfaye Belay has spent an active and productive first year as a member of Bluefield State College’s faculty. Very recently, he received notification for grant applications he had submitted to the West Virginia Idea Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE) have been awarded, helping the College to augment its biomedical research capabilities.
“These WV-INBRE grants permit the College to purchase fundamental equipment necessary to conduct basic medical research,” Belay observed. Significantly, the grants will underwrite purchase of the first fluorescence microscope ever obtained by the College, and additional equipment will permit DNA and RNA analysis, he added.
“These equipment will be utilized to conduct research that focuses upon health problems that occur in disproportionately high levels among individuals in low socioeconomic groups and minority,” the BSC professor said. The grant will also provide funding so that two students can be hired for part-time employment to participate in this research initiative.
Belay was hired through the Minority Health Institute at BSC. He joined the faculty last semester, after conducting post-doctoral research and teaching at Georgia State University and Clark Atlanta University Systems. In addition to basic research in Chlamydia, community-based research at BSC will be established to increase public awareness and knowledge of sexually-transmitted diseases, along with factors that contribute to the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and strategies to prevent the spread of STDs.
“The West Virginia Idea Network for Biomedical Research Excellence recognizes the importance of medical research at Bluefield State College,” he summarized. “As a participant in this statewide higher education research network, we are grateful for this opportunity to expand our College’s biomedical research capacity.”
February 2, 2006
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