The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded over $800,000 in grants to Virginia Tech for research projects. The funding includes $395,248 for research into the causes of cancer and prevention strategies related to episodic future thinking and smoking, as well as $452,769 for allergy, immunology, and transplantation research focused on treatment for a mosquito-borne alphavirus that can cause nervous system damage.
U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who represents Virginia’s 9th district in Congress since 2011 after replacing Rick Boucher and previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2000 to 2010, commented on the grants.
“Virginia Tech is an innovative giant in its research and technological capabilities.
“These HHS grants for more than $800,000 help Virginia Tech complete projects related to cancer and alphavirus research.”
Congressman Griffith recently visited the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke. The institute oversees more than 40 faculty-led research teams. During his visit, he spoke with leadership and various researchers about ongoing progress.
Earlier this month, Griffith announced another series of HHS grants to Virginia Tech for research efforts. In July, he also publicized separate HHS funding allocated to the university specifically for cancer research initiatives.
Griffith was born in Philadelphia in 1958 and currently resides in Salem. He graduated from Emory and Henry College with a BA in 1980 and earned a JD from Washington and Lee University in 1983.
