CSUS receives $2.5m for stemcell researcher training

02/02/2016

California State University, Sacramento has received a $2.5 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine with which to train stem cell researchers.

The grant is part of $42million scientific research support state agency CIRM is splitting between 21 universities, colleges and other institutions.

CSUS will use the grant to fund 50 internships in Sacramento State’s Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy Program, a 20-month master’s degree program thatincludes three semesters at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and a $15,000 paid internship with the disease team at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures in Sacramento.

The grant will help 50 biological science students enroll in the Stem Cell Research and Therapy Program, which was launched seven years ago.

Using the patient’s own stem cells to ensure a perfect match with donated cells used in stem cell therapy means their bodywill not reject them and they will not have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of their life.

Naturally shed teeth are an excellent source for stem cells as this way they can be harvested in a pain-free, non-invasive fashion. Baby teeth are where the best cells can be found, as these are young and will nothave deteriorateddue to age or pollutants. These can then be stored in a tooth stem cell bank for any use in any future stem cell treatment.

CSUS College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Associate Dean Jane Bruner said: “This program will expand the pipeline of stem cell researchers needed to accelerate the application of stem cell biology to clinical use and improve health care for patients and communities in California.”

CIRM, which supports 300 active stem cell programs, was founded in 2004 after Californian voters approved the allocation $3billion to fund stem cell research in the state.