BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Virginia Tech has established a new Center for Drug Discovery to accelerate research that could lead to new treatments for a host of diseases.

The Blacksburg school says officials envision the center will be a major force in drug discovery and delivery in the U.S. The center is housed in the College of Science.

Among the diseases that the university says it will research treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diseases of the central nervous system, and parasitic diseases such as malaria.

Center director David Kingston says that the role of universities in the field of drug discovery research is important as major pharmaceutical companies downsize.

Officials say the center's principal participants have more than $29 million in combined current research support.

AP-WF-07-19-12 0632GMT