March 10, 2009 ─ (BRONX, NY) ─ For the third time in 14 months, the Empire State Stem Cell Board has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University funding for stem cell research. The new grants, totaling $12.7 million, will help create technologies for treating sickle cell anemia, cancer, heart and liver disease, as well as obesity and hepatitis.
In applauding President Obama's executive order restoring federal funding for stem cell research, Governor David Paterson announced $101.8 million in new State funding for stem cell research, reinforcing New York's continued investment and leading role in this rapidly evolving scientific field. The latest round of awards is in addition to $16.5 million in State funding previously announced. To date, New York State has invested a total of $118.3 million in funding for stem cell research.
"Support for stem cell research offers hope for better health to millions while providing an economic stimulus to the biomedical industry," the Governor said.
$6 Million Einstein Award
An award of $5.99 million was awarded to principal investigator Eric Bouhassira, Ph.D., Einstein's Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.
The award will support the creation of the medical school's Comprehensive Pluripotent Stem Cell Center. The center will consist of three units:
The Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Unit that will produce patient specific stem cells; the Xenotransplantation Unit through which researchers will transplant human cells in small animal models, an essential component of experiments that have to be performed before therapies can be tested in humans; and the Stem Cell Genomic Unit that will allow Einstein's human stem cell researchers to study the genome of the patient-specific stem cells in unprecedented detail. This new center will vastly expand the facilities and technology available to Ei
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| Contact: Deirdre Branley dbranley@aecom.yu.edu 718-430-2923 Albert Einstein College of Medicine Source:Eurekalert |