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The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (91�㽶��Ƶ) is declaring research a priority with 91�㽶��Ƶ Bio, a two-day event that will feature a ceremonial groundbreaking for the $35 million expansion of 91�㽶��Ƶ’s Fredric W. Smith Science Building and an economic forum.

The public is invited to attend and can register at . 

91�㽶��Ƶ Bio focuses on raising awareness of 91�㽶��Ƶ, the Greenbrier Valley and West Virginia among companies and organizations in the biosciences and biotech realms. 

The Greenbrier Valley Bio Hub groundbreaking for the expansion will take place at 5 p.m., Aug. 20, in conjunction with the 91�㽶��Ƶ Bio Forum, taking place 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Aug. 21. Both events will take place on 91�㽶��Ƶ’s campus and are designed to energize the region and benefit researchers, 91�㽶��Ƶ faculty, staff, students, the community and the state. 

During the next two years of construction, 91�㽶��Ƶ will encourage private and public research partners to locate lab operations in the facility, as the school is dedicating the third floor of the expanded building to private and public research space.

“91�㽶��Ƶ has an expanding research portfolio and is interested in collaboration. The school is engaged in biomedical, translational and clinical sciences research as well as community-based participatory and public health research. This expansion will provide laboratory, support and office space,” said Dovenia Ponnoth, Ph.D., 91�㽶��Ƶ’s associate dean for research and sponsored programs. “Our partners will find an innovative, affordable and attractive location where they can flourish in today’s research environment.”

In addition to the groundbreaking, the event’s first day will include a campus tour, a reception and a visit to downtown Lewisburg. The second-day forum will focus on economic development with bioscience, biotech and pharmaceutical industry panels, government speakers and guests and an overview of opportunities in the Greenbrier Valley. 

Among the guests joining school and local government officials for the groundbreaking and forum are: 

• U.S. Sen. Jim Justice
• U.S. Congresswoman Carol Miller
• NIH Small Business Program Director Stephanie Fertig
• Bio International Senior Vice President for State Government Affairs and Affiliate Relations Patrick Plues
• Bioscience Association of West Virginia Executive Director Bryan Brown
• West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Matt Herridge
• West Virginia Del. Vernon Criss
• West Virginia State Sen. Vince Deeds
• West Virginia State Sen. Tom Takubo
• West Virginia Division of Economic Development Project Manager Kelsey Staggers
• Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Ruthana Beezley
• WVHA Executive Director Jim Kaufman

Don Smith, 91�㽶��Ƶ’s associate vice president for government and external relations and chief communications officer, said the Greenbrier Valley is the perfect option for researchers who want professional growth but are tired of working at large industrial sites in metropolitan areas. The cost of living and quality of life in southern West Virginia could be of interest to researchers. 

“Our approach is to raise our visibility in the biotech space, build relations with researchers, pharmaceutical companies and bio-organizations and showcase our state and local resources. We want to make the private and public sectors aware of the incredible economic development opportunities in West Virginia,” Smith said. “We also want to discuss the benefits of coming to 91�㽶��Ƶ and creating a life in southern West Virginia. Lewisburg, in the heart of the Greenbrier Valley, is a place where people can grow.”