March 23, 2009
CSU Media Contact:
Erik Fallis , (562) 951-4800
$1.4M Heading to Cal Poly as part of $16 Million
in Voter-Approved Stem Cell Research Funding to CSU
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Some $1.4 million is heading to Cal Poly as part of $16 million in stem cell research funding awarded to the CSU. Cal Poly and 10 other CSUs will use the funding for research in the field of regenerative medicine.
Bridges to Stem Cell Research Awards will facilitate instruction, laboratory work, internship placement, faculty mentoring and career guidance. In addition to nearly $1.4 million awarded to Cal Poly, the grants went to 10 other CSU campuses: Channel Islands, Humboldt, Long Beach, Pomona, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San José, and San Marcos. Cal State L.A. is a partner in the Cal Poly Pomona project – which will pool the campuses’ faculty expertise in research, curriculum development and mentoring.
“CSU campuses are the training grounds for the scientists and professionals who fuel California’s knowledge-based economy,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “These grants will allow the university to take the next step into an exciting and rapidly expanding area of biotechnology.”
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which oversees the Bridge Awards, is the state agency created to distribute nearly $3 billion in bond funding approved by the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004. CIRM is the largest source of funding for human embryonic and multi-use stem cell research.
“The voters have given California a commanding lead when it comes to groundbreaking stem cell research,” said Susan Baxter, executive director of the CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB). “With the latest action on stem cells by President Obama, we are well positioned as a state to lead the world in unlocking the use of stem cells to develop new technologies and products for regenerative medicine.”
CSU joined with the California Community Colleges to propose the overall plan aimed at expanding access to cutting edge stem cell research for students statewide. Current certificate, degree programs and general education courses will incorporate the latest stem cell science and technology. The CSU campuses will provide hands-on stem cell training in both academic and industrial research settings.
CSUPERB has been actively engaged in addressing the shortfall of professionals for the biotech industry, supporting the development of 16 Professional Science Master’s programs on 14 CSU campuses. Using the Bridge Awards, the CSU can now help address the critical need for professionals capable of translating research discoveries into stem cell based therapies.
Bridges to Stem Cell Research Awards by Campus
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo - $1,396,509
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
partner California State University, Los Angeles - $1,436,797
California State University, Channel Islands - $1,733,406
California State University, Long Beach- $1,337,700
California State University, Sacramento - $1,321,440
California State University, San Marcos - $1,732,164
Humboldt State University - $1,616,363
San Diego State University - $1,716,030
San Francisco State University - $1,713,558
San José State University - $1,733,760
Pasadena City College (Community college) - $1,727,991
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CSUPERB - CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology
CIRM - California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
CSU Public Affairs
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 450,000 students and 46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 89,000 annually. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California.