The institute's 29-member advisory board approved a proposal from Pan, an assistant professor of internal medicine, and awarded him approximately $2.4 million over the next five years for salary and research support. The CIRM New Faculty Awards are designed to encourage the next generation of stem cell research in California by funding promising M.D. and Ph.D. scientists in the early stages of their careers.
Pan, who specializes in cancer and blood diseases, is both a physician and a Ph.D. scientist. His current research is focused on stem cell approaches that could be used to help cancer patients overcome leukemia.
"This award is not only a great honor," said Pan, "but it will provide a vital foundation for my laboratory research into cancer stem cells. I'm really just getting started in my career as a scientist, so having such support will allow me to fully concentrate on this very promising area of investigation."
Pan noted that cancer cells, including leukemia, originate from primitive cancer stem cells. His innovative research uses a method of rapid synthesis to identify molecules that specifically recognize cancer stem cells and have the potential to be used for targeted therapy by eliminating leukemia from its very root.
"One of the reasons why Dr. Pan's stem cell work stands out," said Jan Nolta, director of the UC Davis stem cell program, "is that it will provide insight into potential treatments for leukemia and will also give us a better understanding about the nature and origins of this terrible disease, which could lead to other novel forms of therapy."
Today's award was included in grants totaling more than $54 million approved today by the governing board of CIRM for scientists at academic and non-profit research institutions throughout California. The state's stem cell agency sought proposals from principal investigators like Pan, who are fairly new at managing their own laboratories and research programs and typically face numerous challenges in getting the funding needed to conduct in-depth research.
Pan's stem cell proposal was evaluated on the merits of his expertise and potential as a stem cell scientist, his research plan and UC Davis' institutional support for laboratory space and assistance.
"This award to such a promising researcher," said Ann Bonham, executive associate dean for academic affairs, "offers an important boost to our overall stem cell program at UC Davis. It truly supports the type of scientific training and development that will no doubt offer benefits well into the future."
Since 2005, UC Davis has been awarded more than $11 million in various grants from California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The university's stem cell program now coordinates more than 100 researchers working on various stem cell investigations in both Davis and Sacramento. Currently under construction is a 100,000 square-foot research facility for regenerative medicine, which will be located on the UC Davis campus in Sacramento and offer scientists access to state-of-the-art laboratories and cell manufacturing and testing rooms. Three years ago, the National Institutes of Health awarded $6 million to UC Davis to fund a Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research. One of only two such centers in the nation, it is focused on exploring stem and progenitor cell therapies for the treatment of childhood diseases, including those that affect the blood and kidneys.