The University of California, Irvine, has won $3.5 million in funding for stem cell research.
Earlier this month, the university said several of its scientists won the funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which was created after California voters ap-proved Proposition 71 in 2004.
Six UC Irvine stem cell projects are getting two-year scientific excellence through exploration and development grants.
The funding “underscores the strength of stem cell research in our institution,” said Hans Keirstead, who is co-director of UCI’s Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. “UCI is unique in having a large number of both basic stem cell researchers and individuals skilled in translating basic discoveries to the clinic. These qualities are essential for speeding basic discoveries to the clinic.”
The grants:
– Vincent Procaccio, an assistant professor of pediatrics, gets $623,500 to study the role of mitochondria, or a cell’s energy source, in enabling stem cells to develop desired cell types.
– Kyoko Yokomori, an associate professor of biological chemistry, gets $623,500 to study the chromatin structure formed at DNA sequences linked to a form of muscular dystrophy.
– Grant MacGregor, associate professor of developmental and cell biology, gets $623,781 to identify ways that female reproductive cells can be grown from stem cells.
– Charles Limoli, associate professor of radiation oncology, gets $625,617 to use human embryonic stem cells to replace somatic stem cells depleted during the course of cancer radiotherapy.
– Thomas Lane, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, gets $425,594 to better understand how to repair nervous system damage in diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
– Brian Cummings, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, gets $619,223 to examine the role of immunosuppressant agents on stem cell growth in the central nervous system.
Overall, the institute approved about $45 million for 72 projects.
The grant news came a few days after the Gross center hosted a forum on stem cell research that featured Rep. James Langevin, a Rhode Island Democrat who’s co-sponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in Congress.
Nursing Money
In other university news, UCI received the largest amount,$365,000,of $3 million in nursing education grants from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The funds are administered by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development through the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission and are designed to help nursing schools attract and educate additional students.
The Santa Ana College of Nursing received $100,000.
California has been in the throes of a nursing shortage for several years. The situation has led hospitals throughout the state to offer bonuses, recruit out of area and to hike their pay rates.
More on Edwards
A couple of weeks ago, we profiled members of the executive leadership team at Irvine heart valve maker Ed-wards Lifesciences Corp.
Since, Edwards said it wanted to point out three more key team members whose profiles didn’t appear in the story:
– Don Bobo, vice president and general manager of trans-catheter valve replacement.
– Larry Wood, vice president and general manager of trans- catheter valve repair.
– John McGrath, vice president of quality.
Edwards is unique in that the company has no clear No. 2 to Chief Executive Michael Mussallem.
“Typically, when you name a COO, you are acknowledging the No. 2 in the company,” Mussallem said in the story. “Although we have several possible CEO successors that we discuss at every board meeting, we felt that it would be disruptive to the teamwork that we have going with our executives if we named a COO or No. 2.”
Bits and Pieces:
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc., an Irvine drug maker, said it completed a new drug application submission for its satraplatin cancer drug candidate to the Food and Drug Administration. Spectrum said it expects to get a $4 million milestone payment from GPC Biotech AG, a German company that it licensed global satraplatin rights to. The two companies are involved in a dispute over sublicensing fees from the drug Enclarity Inc., an Aliso Viejo healthcare software maker, said it is working with Philadelphia’s Portico Systems on projects to improve the quality and reliability of healthcare data Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley said Cigna HealthCare certified it for bariatric surgery for weight loss AMDL Inc., a Tustin cancer diagnostics maker, said Jade Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary, asked the Chinese government to allow it to sell Docetaxel, a drug for breast, prostate and stomach cancers.
