Focus: Hidden - West Virginia

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Clearcutting and wildfires destroyed the red spruce which were once the dominant tree species in West Virginia. Today, only 10% of the state’s red spruce coverage remains and it faces a new threat in climate change. West Virginia University researchers are working toward restoring some of the original tree habitat by studying the long-term effects of climate change on red spruce and the surrounding environment.

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Silica exposure is a driving force behind rising rates of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, according to a new study that compared the pathology and mineralogy of the disease across generations. It is the first study to offer scientific evidence explaining why progressive massive fibrosis, the most severe form of black lung disease, is occurring more frequently and among younger coal workers in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.

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Four West Virginia University Health Sciences academic programs have integrated nationally-recognized Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist training into their curricula.

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To help improve the quality of life for West Virginians and residents in the Appalachian region, West Virginia University’s School of Public Health is offering an evidence-based approach to preventing, treating and often reversing chronic disease, 85 percent of which is attributable to lifestyle risk factors.

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New York, NY – Jan. 26, 2022 –This week, 17 leading medical organizations and U.S. public health leaders submitted an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court in the case West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, urging the justices to affirm the agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and have been proven to inflict major health problems.

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The Mountain State’s communities have seen elevated interest in tourism staples and a new national park, and along with the COVID-19 pandemic and work-at-home expansion, have experienced more visitors and new residents. West Virginia University Extension Service experts can help those communities be equipped with the resources and knowledge to sustain the momentum.

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Fire restrictions vary by state. In West Virginia, the fall fire season runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 while the spring fire season goes from March 1 to May 31.

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Two engineers at West Virginia University have studied countermeasures to mitigate rockfalls on the Mountain State's rural roads.

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They're focused on the idea that aging in Appalachia doesn’t need to be about long commute times for quality healthcare and high rates of diabetes, depression and other diseases.

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Researchers at West Virginia University are surveying all 55 West Virginia counties to better understand critical health needs. The goal is to direct resources to the communities that need them most.