Stem Cell Institute Solicits New Faculty Award Proposals

SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2007 The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is seeking proposals to fund promising M.D. and Ph.D. scientists in their early years as independent investigators and faculty members. As many as 25 New Faculty Awards totaling $85 million are expected to be approved by the CIRM governing board in December 2007.

  “We are keenly interested in developing a pool of well-trained scientists and physicians who will be future leaders in basic and clinical stem cell research,” said Arlene Chiu, Ph.D., CIRM’s interim chief scientific officer. “These grants are designed to encourage newly independent investigators to pursue bold and innovative studies across the full range of stem cell types human and animal, embryonic and adult. We will consider providing successful applicants salary and research funding for up to five years, ensuring that they have stable, secure financial support as they begin their independent scientific careers.”

  The grants are open to California non-profit and academic research institutions. Those with medical schools may nominate up to four candidates, while those without may nominate two.

  The New Faculty Awards application is available at https://www.cirm.ca.gov/grants/default.asp. Letters of intent must be received by the CIRM by August 9, 2007, with full applications due August 30.

 About CIRM
Governed by the ICOC, the CIRM was established in 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions, was approved by California voters, and called for the establishment of an entity to make grants and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities, and other vital research opportunities. The CIRM is the largest source of funding for human embryonic stem cell research in the world. To date, grants totaling more than $208.5 million have been approved by the ICOC. For more information, please visit www.cirm.ca.gov.

 Contact: Dale A. Carlson
                 415/396-9117