Continuing to lead the way in developing key scientific advances in the area of stem cell research, University of California researchers from eight campuses today (Dec. 12) were awarded more than $24.7 million for stem cell research and funding for young scientists from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
The 29-member Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, approved New Faculty Awards for approximately $54 million total to scientists and medical doctors to support a broad range of research and fund promising physicians and stem cell scientists.
“The University of California is grateful to the CIRM for extending this crucial support to our young research scientists and physicians,” University of California President Robert C. Dynes said. “As a public research university, UC has a mandate to put our best minds and best ideas to work for society's benefit.”
Grant applications were evaluated in a number of areas including:
• Innovative research plans.
• An applicant’s potential to become a leader in stem cell research.
• Institutional support for the applicant’s work, including laboratory space and research support.
The award provides salary and research support for up to five years to new faculty members at stem cell research programs across the California. In addition, the funding helps scientists at the time between the end of their formal training and the beginning of their independently supported research activities, when funding is typically hard to secure.
Stem cell research is providing an important venue into understanding and treating some of the most complex health challenges of our day. Scientists are studying stem cells to gain a better understanding of the biological processes involved in human health and disease, with the goal of translating discoveries from this research into treatments for a variety of ailments such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and cancer.
CIRM New Faculty Awards for UC campuses:
• UC Berkeley: $2.2 million
• UC Davis: $2.4 million
• UC Irvine: $2.1 million
• UCLA: $7.6 million
• UC Merced: $1.6 million
• UC Riverside: $2.1 million
• UC San Diego: $2.2 million
• UC Santa Cruz: $4.5 million
Background:
Proposition 71
Proposition 71 funding is helping greatly to expand stem cell research at the University of California. Passed by voters in 2004, Proposition 71 authorizes a $3 billion bond program over 10 years to fund stem cell research in California. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), formed as a result of the passage of Proposition 71, is providing significant funding for such research much of which cannot be done with federal funds (such as human embryonic stem cell research on lines produced after the 2001 Presidential funding restriction).
For more information:
UC Berkeley: http://research.chance.berkeley.edu/page.cfm?id=203
UC Davis: www.research.ucdavis.edu/home.cfm?id=SCR,9
UC Irvine: http://stemcell.uci.edu
UC Merced: http://qsb.ucmerced.edu/research/?id=areas&area=stemcell
UC Riverside: http://stemcell.ucr.edu/index.php
UC San Diego: http://stemcells.ucsd.edu/index.asp
UC Santa Cruz: www.ucsc.edu/research
UC fact sheet on stem cell research: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/stemcell_factsheet07.pdf
CIRM release: http://www.cirm.ca.gov/press/pdf/2007/12-12-07.pdf