Press
WV Bio Summit Set for May 19 in Huntington
- Details
Event to feature National, State Innovators and Entrepreneurs
Charleston, W.Va. (May 9, 2022) – The agenda for the 10th Annual West Virginia Bioscience Summit, to be held from 10am-2pm on Thursday, May 19th at Brad Smith Foundation Hall in Huntington, is now online. Check it out by clicking here!
Free informational webinar set for 2 p.m. on Tuesday: Registration required
- Details
By Lexi Browning, West Virginia Press Association
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Since the coronavirus began to spread in March, West Virginians have been inundated by an influx of information — and disinformation — about COVID-19 and potential treatments on the horizon.
On Tuesday, the Bioscience Association of West Virginia will host a virtual forum through which West Virginians can learn more about the status of vaccine and therapeutics developments from professionals within the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as the state’s plans for distribution, as outlined in the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ drafted COVID-19 Vaccination Plan that was released in mid-October.
To register for the webinar, click here or visit: https://bit.ly/35XAMug
Featured guests include Phyllis Arthur, vice president for Infectious Diseases and Diagnostics Policy at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and Dr. Clay Marsh, M.D., the vice president and executive dean for Health Sciences at West Virginia University and West Virginia’s appointed Coronavirus Czar.
National Biotech Entrepreneur, WVU Alum Dr. Brett Hall to Keynote WV Bioscience Summit April 25th In Morgantown
- Details
Charleston, W.Va. (March 28, 2019) - Dr. Brett Hall, who received his doctorate in cancer biology from West Virginia University and now resides in San Diego and serves as President of Trans Medical Sciences, Chief Scientific Officer for Immuneering, and Chairman of the Board for BioArkive, is the keynote presenter for the 9th Annual West Virginia Bioscience Summit, taking place on Thursday, April 25th at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.
“It starts with one,” said Bryan Brown, executive director of the West Virginia Bioscience Association. “One idea, one researcher, one discovery, one entrepreneur – like Dr. Brett Hall – is all it takes to make significant change that helps patients, spurs innovation and facilitates economic progress in West Virginia’s life science sector.”
Bioscience Innovation and Economic Impact Forum merges policy, industry
- Details
MORGANTOWN — Bioscience is a rapidly growing industry in West Virginia, Bryan Brown, executive director of the Bioscience Association of West Virginia, said Friday at the state Bioscience Innovation and Economic Impact Forum.
The goal of the forum was to connect bioscientists with policymakers and the general public to talk about the economic impact the industry has in West Virginia, Richard Giersch, director of the WVU Health Sciences Innovation Center, said.
“I want to tell the story about how investment into science is producing results,” he said.
Study Finds West Virginia’s Bioscience Industries Experiencing Strong Growth
- Details
Charleston, W.Va. (June 6, 2018) – According to an industry-wide study released on June 5th on the economic impact of the U.S. bioscience industries, “West Virginia’s bioscience industry is growing rapidly...State bioscience firms grew their employment base by 14 percent from 2014 through 2016, well outpacing national growth (4.4 percent) to reach nearly 8,000 total industry jobs”.
The study, entitled “Investment, Innovation and Job Creation in a Growing U.S. Bioscience Industry 2018”, was conducted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) – the national trade association representing the bioscience industries.
According to the report:
- West Virginia’s bioscience industry directly employed 7,834 in 2016 across 489 business establishments. The industry’s total employment impact supports over 22,000 jobs in the state.
- The industry has seen a substantial 14 percent increase in its employment base since 2014, as well as an 11 percent increase in the number of bioscience firms operating in the state during the same period.
- Annual wages for state bioscience workers exceed $75,000, on average, and are significantly more than the overall private sector average.
- NIH funding to West Virginia research institutions has grown from $19 million in 2014 to more than $28 million in 2017.
- Employment in the Agricultural Feedstock and Industrial Biosciences sector grew by 169% between 2014-2016.
- Employment in drugs and pharmaceuticals in West Virginia is considered to be specialized and is more concentrated in the state economy relative to the national average (location quotient is 1.93).
- State patenting in the biosciences totaled 179 patents issued from 2014 through 2017 with a focus in medical and surgical devices, biochemistry, and drugs and pharmaceuticals. While modest in number, the state’s patent totals have increased in recent years.
Bryan Brown, executive director of the West Virginia Bioscience Association, said, “It’s remarkable to see West Virginia’s bio industries growing over the past two years given the economic challenges facing the state. This is a testament to the skill and perseverance of the entrepreneurs and researchers – both in private companies and on university campuses – who are creating innovative products and technologies in the Mountain State.”
Brown said companies like Alcon in Huntington and Mylan in Morgantown, are helping drive growth in this sector, as are state biotech companies like Randox, Cordgenics, Valtari Bio, Progenesis, Microbiological Consultants and New River Labs. Additionally, West Virginia University and Marshall University, among other state colleges, continue to grow their research and development programs.
The BIO report includes individual profiles for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and can be found on the BIO website at bio.org/jobs2018.