21-05-09
Four collaborative stem cell projects involving researchers from the Australian Stem Cell Centre, Monash University and the Florey Neuroscience Institutes are the first to be funded under the International Alliance between the State of Victoria and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
The projects were announced late last night (AEST) by Victoria’s Minister for Innovation, Gavin Jennings at BIO2009 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Victorian collaborators represent some of the best stem cell scientists in the world. Their research focus varies from studying the immune system in conjunction with stem cells to prevent rejection, to harnessing the abilities of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and their potential for growth and differentiation into all the cells of the body.
The successful projects were submitted to the CIRM Early Translational Research Awards that are designed to move promising basic research in stem cell science toward the clinic for eventual patient benefit. A total of 72 applications were received at CIRM, with a total of 15 selected to receive funding at this time, of which four are Victorian collaborative projects.
For the media release by Victoria's Minister for Innovation, Gavin Jennings, please click
here.
CIRM’s overarching strategy is to fund basic research that will bring the results of that work to patients, and these grants help align the Institute with this. To read more about the grants, click
here. To date, the CIRM governing board has approved 294 research and facility grants totaling more than $761 million, making CIRM the largest source of funding for human embryonic stem cell research in the world.
For more information on the individual research projects and researchers, download the full release below.
Downloads
Stem Cell Scientists First to be Awarded Victoria-California Collaborative Grants to Drive Stem Cell Research (106052)
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