UCLA researchers received grants totalling close to $4.2 million to investigate issues concerning human embryonic stem cells for the next two years.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM, awarded $45 million in grants to 20 institutions throughout the state on Friday.
These grants are the first group of grants given out solely for embryonic stem cell research as a result of the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004, which allocated $3 billion in funding for stem cell research in California.
“UCLA did very well,” said Dale Carlson, chief communication officer for CIRM. “(UCLA) ranks fourth out of all the institutions who received grants.”
UCLA ranks second in the number of grants it acquired out of the University of California campuses, behind UC San Francisco, which received eight grants, according to a CIRM press release.
The grants, called Scientific Excellence through Exploration and Development grants, allow researchers not normally involved with stem cell research to enter the field. UCLA earned seven of these grants.
Currently, there is no federal funding for embryonic stem cell research due to opposition from many, including President Bush, who argue that stem cell research is morally wrong because it involves the destruction of human embryos.
The money from Prop. 71 has also been tied up for the last two years because two lawsuits challenging CIRM’s constitutionality have prevented CIRM from borrowing funds.
The money for these research grants has been provided by a $150 million loan from the state, authorized by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2006, and an additional $31 million in loans from philanthropic organizations.
But though there are those who oppose stem cell research, others support it based on the potential advancements that can be made by working with stem cells.
Dr. Owen Witte, director of the UCLA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, said in a statement that he is delighted with how many UCLA scientists received funding for their research.
“This is a testament to the leading -edge research being proposed by UCLA stem cell scientists, who rank among the very best in their field,” he said in the statement.
“UCLA’s highly collaborative atmosphere allowed our scientists to develop innovative interdisciplinary research projects that bring expertise from all areas of the campus to bear on this important scientific endeavor.”
Michael Teitell, associate professor of pediatrics and pathology and laboratory medicine, who received one of the grants, emphasized the importance of the combined effort of those working at the stem cell institute in contributing to a researcher’s success.
“We have very strong leadership in the stem cell institute. The directors run a high-quality operation. It is the whole that makes the vibrant, energetic and successful environment we have,” he said.
Teitell said he is excited to begin working on his research. He said he plans to explore the role of mitochondria, which play a part in cell energy production, in self-renewal and differentiation of embryonic stem cells.
He said he hopes his research will contribute to finding cures for cancer.
He said since cancer stem cells relate to normal stem cells, understanding how mitochondria work in normal cells could provide insight into how they work in cancer stem cells.
“We want to find out which mitochondria will lead to the highest-quality stem cells,” he said.
Siavash Kurdistani, an assistant professor of biological chemistry, said he hopes his findings will contribute to cancer research. He said he plans to investigate whether histones, proteins that wrap around DNA cells, can be modified by small, chemical molecules in a regulated manner and affect cell renewal versus cell differentiation.
He said he plans to start his research in the spring and generate enough preliminary information to apply for grants in the future to conduct further research.
Kurdistani, who applied for funding when CIRM accepted bids for grants, said he was happy to hear his proposal was accepted.
“It was a pleasant surprise. I’m grateful that these ideas are unique enough to receive a grant,” he said.
Kurdistani also said that without this grant, he would not have been able to work on stem cell research. Otherwise, he would continue researching system modifications, specifically in cancer.
“I am thankful to the people of California for approving the measure to make these grants possible,” Kurdistani said.