The North Central West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference will focus on the national, state and regional economy as well as emerging economic opportunities in biosciences in the region.

Sponsored by West Virginia Universitys College of Business and Economics, the conference will be 8 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at the Radisson Hotel in Morgantown.

This conference is modeled after our successful Charleston conference that weve held for the past 11 years,said Tom S. Witt, associate dean for research and outreach in WVU s College of Business and Economics.

It features a similar format, except that it has a special focus on a strategic issue of growing economic importance to our regionthe emerging bioscience industry,Witt added.

The conference is expected to attract nearly 200 business and public leaders.

Andrew Hodge, managing director of the U.S. and Canadian Forecast Group at Global Insight, one of the leading national economic consulting firms, will present the U.S. economic outlook.

George Hammond, director of the West Virginia Economic Outlook Program in the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research, will present the West Virginia and north-central West Virginia economic outlook. Concurrent with the conference, the Bureau of Business and Economic Research will release its economic forecasts for the Morgantown metropolitan statistical area.

Emerging biosciences presentations will be given by Dr. Robert DAlessandri, vice president of health sciences at WVU ; Stephen Turner, chairman and CEO of Protea Biosciences Inc.; Christopher Kolanko, chief scientific officer for MD Biotech Inc. and Auto Gentox; and Scott Rotruck, chairman of the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development and president of the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce.

The conference will end with closing remarks by WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr.

Conference registration fees are $40 until Feb. 22 or $55 thereafter and cover a continental breakfast, break and conference materials. Students can register for $25. Registration information may be obtained by calling 304-293-7831 or by going online at .

Conference underwriters include Bruceton Bank, Centra Bank, The Dominion Post, I-79 Development Council, Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, The Chambers Endowed Program for Electronic Business, The McLaughlin Economic Outlook Fund, The State Journal and the West Virginia Department of Revenue.