Bluefield State College Faculty Member
Receives $15K Pilot Grant Award
From WV Idea Network for
Biomedical Research Excellence

(Bluefield)—Dr. Tesfaye Belay, Assistant Professor of Biology at Bluefield State College, has been selected to receive a $15,000 pilot grant award from the West Virginia Idea Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE).  “This award for the 2008-09 fiscal year will pay stipends to undergraduate research assistants and will also permit the purchase of laboratory supplies that will help sustain and expand biomedical research at Bluefield State College,” Dr. Belay noted.

Two earlier WV-INBRE grants awarded to Dr. Belay have enabled BSC to establish a biomedical research laboratory, and the College is now a participant in the statewide higher education research network.  “Through our research laboratory, we can now promote basic biomedical research, acquire extramural grant support, and disseminate information about our research findings to the scientific community,” he added.

He stressed that these initiatives also help to prepare, motivate, encourage, and support BSC students—particularly underrepresented minority students—to become involved in research.  “I am grateful for the continuing support received through WV-INBRE,” Dr. Belay said.  “This support has been instrumental in the growth of biomedical research capability at Bluefield State College.”

West Virginia Governor, Joe Manchin will present formal notification of the WV-INBRE award to Dr. Belay at the “Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol” on January 31. 
 
January 25, 2008

School of Arts and Sciences