Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $1,372,387 from National Science Foundation (NSF) for research projects at West Virginia University (WVU) and Marshall University. The funding will support research into solar fuels production, flame-retardant systems for 3D-printed products, and cartilage repair.

“The National Science Foundation continues to be an important partner for the Mountain State through its investments in groundbreaking research opportunities,” said Senator Manchin. “I’m pleased the NSF is investing more than $1.3 million into these initiatives that will advance our understanding of new technologies, including light-absorbing molecules and flame-retardant systems, as well as improve medical outcomes for West Virginians. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources that advance critical academic research and support our universities across West Virginia.”

Individual awards listed below:

• $604,047 – Marshall University Research Corporation: Engineering of Biomed Systems
  • This funding will support a new and effective method that turns stem cells into another type of cell that is critical for cartilage repair.
• $574,732 – West Virginia University Research Corporation: CMFP-Chem Mech Funct
  • This funding will support broadening the scope of available photosensitizers to allow for targeted design of light-harvesting molecules in a more sustainable way.
• $193,608 – Marshall University Research Corporation: Special Initiatives
  • This funding will study heat and mass transfer dynamics to better understand their effects on ignition and combustion behaviors.