California's Stem Cell Agency

The mandate of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to oversee and support quality research efforts in stem cell technology and to advance the development of medical therapies using this technology. As a result, many important research programs have already been funded in record time and the stem cell research community in California is growing rapidly. A need has ensued for qualified personnel at the Master of Science (MS) level to support key stem cell research activities in California. Our academic institution currently offers an MS in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and an MS in Biotechnology/MBA Dual Degree program. These programs boast an enrollment of over 100 students and have a demonstrated track record of yielding highly competitive MS-level professionals. Our graduates have successfully entered the mid- and high-level workforce of the academic research community and biotechnology industry, or have pursued doctoral education. We propose to develop a comprehensive training program in Stem Cell Technology and Laboratory Management (SCT&LM) as an emphasis in our ongoing MS program. The emphasis will include 9 MS-level lecture and lab-intensive courses, 4 elective courses, and a 1-year internship. Most courses have been implemented for our existing MS program. To this end, we are seeking the Bridges Award to (1) assist us in developing 4 new courses for the graduate program, and (2) provide support for 30 one-year internships and an intensive Stem Cell Training course at a CIRM-funded training facility at [REDACTED]. Supplemented by 9 existing courses and 15 additional internships funded by our own institution, our MS program will graduate 45 fully educated and well-trained SCT&LM professional 3 years. We will also develop a general education course on stem cell technology with 3 local community colleges to educate over 1,000 students in the next 3 years. We have established agreements with 5 institutions, with 1 agreement pending, that will accept our graduate interns, offering a variety of research projects using different types of stem cells. A recent survey of our current MS students indicates a strong interest in the SCT&LM program. Many of these students will have completed most of the required courses and be ready for the internship by fall 2009. If our proposal succeeds in its requested funding, our first cohort of students will graduate with an MS degree in Stem Cell Technology and Laboratory Management by summer 2010. This program will be self-sufficient after the 3-year funding period and will sustain itself based on the proven track record of our existing professional science master's programs. We are confident that the SCT&LM program would be a key contribution to the stem cell efforts supported by the people of California in fulfilling the unmet need for highly qualified technical and managerial personnel in stem cell research technology.