MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — The Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center at West Virginia University will hire 24 physician-scientists and 22 staff members to tackle research aimed at directly benefitting patients under a $19.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Health Sciences Chancellor Christopher Colenda announced the award Wednesday, along with $33.5 million committed by other educational, health sciences and health care entities across the state. That brings the total value of the five-year initiative to $53.1 million.