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Dr. Leland Byrd, one of West Virginia University's all-time athletic greats, died Wednesday morning in Morgantown surrounded by his loving family.

A cross-campus collaboration at West Virginia University will help the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service research and review its Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, which has safeguarded millions of acres of productive farm and ranchland into perpetuity.

Dr. Leland E. ("Hammer") Byrd, 94, a resident of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., died at his West Virginia home on Jan. 19, 2022, surrounded by his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth, and other loved ones. Leland was known to his family and friends as a true gentleman, who lived his life with class, integrity, generosity and kindness.

To better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19— symptoms that may continue or even begin after the initial virus infection—researchers at the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute at West Virginia University, are engaging underserved populations that are traditionally underrepresented in clinical studies.

To celebrate the reach of WVU’s academic programs, research and outreach efforts, WVU and WVU Extension will host WVU Day at the Legislature Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Capitol rotunda. The event also will feature a special drone demonstration presented by teens participating in the 4-H Tech Changemakers program from noon to 1 p.m.

West Virginia University will resume its public dashboard this week to track and compile COVID-19 information collected on the Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser campuses.

Despite efforts to promote recycling and reuse of plastic materials, the plastic problem continues to be a global problem. West Virginia University engineers hope to debottleneck the remaining challenges for recycling of single-use plastic packaging by upcycling them into petrochemicals.

This spring, West Virginia University will use funds allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act authorized by the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to continue distributing previously announced emergency grants to students.

By 2050, 12.8 million Americans age 65 or older are likely to have Alzheimer’s disease. That’s more than double the number who have it today. Paul Chantler—a researcher with the WVU School of Medicine—is investigating the link between Alzheimer’s disease and chronic stress. What he and his team uncover may suggest new ways to slow the disease’s progression or even delay its onset. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded the project $2 million.

Animal farming has traditionally fulfilled human nutritional requirements for protein, but insects may serve as an alternative for direct human consumption in the future. Researchers at the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design are working to lay a foundation to develop efficient protein isolation techniques.