The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine recently announced that it will award $230 million in grants for stem cell research focused on cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Fourteen California research teams will receive the funds. Only four of the projects will use embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent cells.
In a California Healthline Special Report by Deirdre Kennedy, experts discussed how the research grants could help scientists develop new treatments for a variety of illnesses.
The Special Report includes comments from:
- Donald Kohn, director of UCLA’s Human Gene Medicine Program;
- Bettina Steffen, scientific officer for CIRM’s disease team initiative; and
- Irving Weissman, director of Stanford University’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.
CIRM officials say they are optimistic about the future of stem cell funding because the Obama administration has expressed support for medical research initiatives (Kennedy, California Healthline, 11/11).