CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In recent years, Marshall University has greatly expanded its academic and research programs, especially in medical care, biological research and forensics - and university officials say much of the credit should go to Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.

Marshall University President Stephen F. Kopp said the university's new Biotechnology Science Center and Forensic Center wouldn't exist if it weren't for Byrd.

"Today, our Forensic Center serves state, local and federal law enforcement groups, including the FBI, CIA and National Security Agency," Kopp said.

"Our state-of-the-art Biotechnology building attracts researchers who are among the best in the country," Kopp said. "And our medical school has also been a major beneficiary of Byrd's funding."

Focusing on rural health care, Marshall's medical school also encourages graduates to stay in West Virginia.

"Today, more than 60 percent of our graduates stay here to help rural areas. Locally, St. Mary's Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital provide modern medical care, also a product of the university," Kopp said.

"Byrd not only helps Marshall and West Virginia University, but other programs as well that make West Virginia a much more competitive state able to compete in the global economy."

Marshall's forensic

and biotechnology centers

Dr. Terry Fenger heads Marshall's Forensic Science Center, now one of the nation's top laboratories used by law enforcement agencies.

It is one of only seven accredited graduate forensic programs in the country. Graduates regularly land jobs with the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Marshal's Service and U.S. State Department.

The lab specializes in extracting and analyzing body fluids like blood and saliva. It often examines cigarette butts and half-eaten sandwiches left behind at crime scenes.

"We have helped solve property crimes in Miami, in South Carolina and here in Huntington," Fenger said.

The center, which recently opened two new laboratories, specializes in training students in a two-year master's degree program in forensic science, which began in 1997.

The forensics center also trains law enforcement officers and others who handle victims of sexual assault.

"We began by focusing on nurses in West Virginia. Now, we also train nurses in contiguous states.

"Sen. Byrd had the vision of what we could do. Most of the federal funding built and developed our forensic laboratories," Fenger said.

In April, Byrd got $4.56 million under the Crime Identification Technology Act to continue funding the Forensic Science Center to perform DNA analyses to solve crimes, determine children's paternities and train new forensic scientists.

Between 1998 and 2009, Byrd provided about $3 million every year to support the forensic center, whose buildings were built on Marshall's old football field.

John Maher, vice president at the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center, said, "We work in transition science, moving basic discoveries in academic quarters from [the laboratory] bench to bedside."

The center also works to coordinate research done in Marshall's biology and chemistry departments with its medical school.

In January, Dr. Eric B. Kmiec left the University of Delaware to become the first director for Marshall's Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, which focuses on biotechnology, biomanufacturing, nanotechnology and molecular research.

Kmiec and eight research colleagues work to apply scientific theories to combat illnesses such as Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder that affects people's muscle coordination.

"We do experiments involving microinjections of single cells to see how they respond to treatment," Kmiec said.

Last week, Marshall received another $3 million to continue medical research work under the fiscal 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill signed by the White House. These funds will go to Marshall's Center for Diagnostic Nanosystems to develop noninvasive technologies to diagnose debilitating diseases.

Constitution Week

Five years ago, Marshall began celebrating Constitution Week, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of John Marshall's birth on Sept. 24, 1755.

Marshall served on the U.S. Supreme Court between 1801 and 1835, making him the longest-serving justice in its history.

As the court's fourth chief justice, Marshall helped define its continuing central role, alongside the government's executive and legislative branches.

Alan Gould, executive director at Marshall's Drinko Academy, said, "As time has passed, we have added other events to Constitution Week," including academic lectures, Marshall anniversary dinners and essay contests.

"All this was born out of Sen. Byrd's efforts. For the past four years, the West Virginia Supreme Court held a session on our campus during Constitution Week," Gould said.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.