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Health Research

Private support aids efforts to control, contain COVID-19 by studying variants

Private philanthropic support is driving timely COVID-19 research by West Virginia University that could ultimately save lives in the Mountain State. The Virginia-based Foster Family Foundation provided $75,000 to support collaborative efforts to identify variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

WVU addresses addiction crisis with novel ultrasound treatment

On the heels of the country’s deadliest year for drug overdoses, the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute launched a first-in-the-world clinical trial to investigate the use of focused ultrasound technology to treat those with opioid use disorder. The procedure marks the potential for a new innovative treatment for addiction.

Loss of Y chromosome, RNA tied to radiation resistance in male lung-cancer patients

West Virginia University researcher Ivan Martinez is investigating how RNA—a diverse class of molecules that includes those in the COVID-19 vaccine—can influence lung cancer’s response to radiation therapy. In a new study, he found that an abundance of one type of RNA was associated with better radiation sensitivity.

WVU experts encourage healthcare providers, institutions to build trust with communities of color to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates

While West Virginia is one of the nation’s leaders in COVID-19 vaccine delivery, some folks in the state—notably people of color—may be hesitant to receive the vaccine. Experts at West Virginia University point to misinformation about how the vaccine works and a long-standing mistrust of government and medical institutions as reasons for lower vaccination rates among Black Americans.

West Virginia’s enduring, intertwined epidemics: Opioids and HIV

Long before COVID-19 entered the picture, West Virginia had been battling two other major public health crises: opioids and HIV. Dr. Sally Hodder, a leading infectious disease expert at West Virginia University, believes that despite the threat of COVID-19, the opioid and HIV epidemics should not be ignored.

WVU confirms presence of COVID-19 variant in community

West Virginia University confirmed three cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 have been detected in the Morgantown area – two are WVU students. Genetic sequencing of samples from the WVU Medicine testing program detected the B.1.1.7 variant in Morgantown campus test samples analyzed this week. The University is working closely with the Monongalia County Health Department in its case investigation and contact tracing. It is believed that the three individuals who have tested positive for the variant are related to one another and have not visited the WVU campus during their infectious period.