The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) governing board approved spending $40 million to fund one or two Stem Cell Genomics Centers of Excellence in California. The aim is to create genomics resources for California scientists who might otherwise not have access to such resources.
“Access to genomics tools will give California researchers unprecedented opportunities for better understanding the cells they are working with and advancing those cells toward therapies for patients,” says CIRM president, Alan Trounson, who has been increasing CIRM’s focus on clinical development. “We expect these centers will lead California into the next generation of cell biology and medical applications, leveraging the incredible advances evolving from advances in human genomics.”
The governing board is also discussing recommendations for strategies to reach the objectives set forth in CIRM’s draft of a strategic plan for the next five years. The final version of the strategy will be presented to the governing board at a March meeting.