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West Virginia shows increasing potential as an emerging biotechnology and life science industry hub. Its strategic location places the Mountain State near the Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland corridors, while other benefits include inexpensive costs of living and doing business as well as academic and state resources.

West Virginia hosts a growing number of biotechnology and life science corporations. These include Aplicare, Inc. in Prichard; Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Morgantown; PharmaLogic in Bridgeport; EyeMarker Systems in Morgantown; and Science Applications International Corporation in Clarksburg.

The Mountain State boasts strong academic institutions conducting groundbreaking scientific research, providing technology transfer assistance, and ensuring practical educational opportunities in the biotechnology and life sciences industry. West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown is designated as a Research University (High Research Activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and received over $142 million in funding from external sources in fiscal year 2006 for total sponsored programs, with $88.3 million designated for research and development funding. Some examples of the research centers and institutes at WVU include the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Cardiovascular Sciences, the Center for Neuroscience including the Sensory Neuroscience Research Center (SNRC), the Prevention Research Center focusing on public health, and the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, a comprehensive cancer treatment, research, and education facility. Additionally, WVU’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) provides protection and commercialization of Intellectual Property for all WVU organizations, aiding faculty members and other researchers with research developments and expertise. Marshall University in Huntington offers such research centers and facilities as the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, Forensic Science Center, and the new Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center. Marshall also offers the services of its Technology Transfer Office (TTO), which makes the products and services generated by faculty, staff, and students available to the public for commercialization. West Liberty State College in West Liberty offers biology programs with concentrations such as microbiology and biotechnology.

West Virginia’s biotechnology and life sciences industry is supported by organizations and incubators designed to foster growth in the sector. The West Virginia Development Office, the state’s economic and community development agency, aims to improve the quality of life for all West Virginians by promoting the state’s economic growth through business startups, retention and expansion of existing industry, and the attraction of new industry. West Virginia EPSCoR (WVEPSCoR) is responsible for the development, administration, management, and implementation of the state’s experimental research improvement program, and aims to build research competitiveness within institutions, individual researchers, research teams, and collaborations between institutions throughout the state. WVEPSCoR supports new or existing faculty positions, equipment, laboratories, and research ideas for limited periods of time, in addition to being responsible for financial and programmatic reporting, outreach, infrastructure proposals, policy development, and support to the state research advisory council. WVEPSCoR also focuses on research areas in energy, biomedical, and aerospace fields in accordance to the State of West Virginia’s Strategic Plan, Vision 2015. The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation (WVHTC), based in Fairmont, is a non-profit organization working for economic change toward growing a statewide, regional, and national high-tech business sector. The Foundation’s Scientific Research Group manages, designs, and builds hardware and software systems using innovative technologies that enable collaboration, support military missions, and enhance public safety and national security. The West Virginia University Business Incubator works to provide the environment, resources, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to maximize the growth potential for early-stage businesses, giving access to space, facilities, and support services. The Incubator resides in the Chestnut Ridge Research Building on the Evansdale Campus of West Virginia University, and houses over 5,000 square feet (464.5 square meters or 0.464 hectares) of newly renovated space.

With its impressive academic, industrial, and organizational resources, West Virginia promises continued success and growth in the biotechnology and life science industry.

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