West Virginia University’s Stroke Research Training Program will be awarded nearly $279,000 from the National Institute on Aging.

The program aims to train the next generation of stroke researchers to better assess strokes in the context of the affected population. The training program will select the best Ph.D. students from the participating Biomedical Sciences Training programs at the WVU Health Science Center and will prepare them with the skills, knowledge and acumen needed for a successful career in stroke research.

U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., announced the award in a release Wednesday.

“I am pleased to see this funding head to West Virginia University to support cutting edge research to properly identify strokes among the West Virginia population,” Manchin said. “This grant is wonderful news for WVU and the entire state. I applaud the university for their dedication to medical research throughout the years.”

He said equipping the next generation of West Virginia health care professionals with the skills they need to effectively identify strokes in patients is crucial to West Virginia’s ability to provide quality health care to its citizens.

“Investing in training and education options is critical to supporting the next generation of medical professionals,” Capito added. “I’m glad to see this funding headed to WVU, where they will be able to provide stroke scientists with the skills, knowledge, and procedures needed to identify and reduce the amount of strokes West Virginians, and others throughout the nation, are experiencing.”