Stem Cell Agency Mulls Requests for Grants To Fund Research Facilities
On Wednesday, the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee of California's stem cell agency advanced 12 proposals for funding major research facilities to a second round of review, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Five proposals were rejected by the board (Somers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/18).
Voters approved the creation of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine under Proposition 71, a 2004 ballot measure that authorized the sale of $3 billion in state bonds over 10 years for stem cell research (California Healthline, 12/17/07).
The agency plans to distribute up to $262 million in this round of major facilities grants to researchers.
Recipients of the grants must provide matching funds of at least 20% of the amount they are seeking from the stem cell agency.
Wednesday's vote by the board advanced the 12 grants to a second review committee made up of real estate experts and patients advocates.
The grants are expected to be awarded in April (San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/18).
On Wednesday, ICOC also approved a new request for application to award $41 million in grants to train new stem cell leaders. The formal proposal is expected to be released in February (Solovitch, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, 1/17).
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