FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 27, 2009
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $20.4 MILLION FOR STEM CELL FACULTY AND FACILITIES
Investment Will Boost New York's New Economy
Requests for Applications Released for Empire State Stem Cell Scholars and Shared Facilities for Stem Cell Research
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the availability of $20.4 million in State funding to enhance stem cell research in New York State through the release of two Requests for Applications (RFAs). This latest investment underscores New York's commitment to accelerate the potential of cell-based therapies to treat life-threatening diseases, and at the same time invigorate the State's biomedical and biotechnology enterprises.
"Investment in stem cell research is part of our vision to make New York a global leader in the New Economy," Governor Paterson said. "It exemplifies a 21st century industry that emerges from an economy based on knowledge, innovation and technology. New York continues to respond to the opportunities for economic recovery by bolstering scientific infrastructure and supporting an environment for investigators and entrepreneurs to flourish. Maintaining a dynamic knowledge base in stem cell science is a major step in that direction."
The $20.4 million will be distributed through two separate RFAs seeking proposals to recruit and retain exceptionally talented postdoctoral fellows and to establish and operate specialized resources and facilities:
- Fellow-to-Faculty Awards in Stem Cell Research ($5.4 million) will enable New York to attract and retain the most promising postdoctoral research fellows and transition them to independent tenure-track positions at research institutions within New York State. The Empire State Stem Cell Scholar awardees will be eligible for up to two years of continued postdoctoral training in stem cell-relevant research, followed by up to three years of funding for independent stem cell research at the faculty level.
- Shared Facilities for Stem Cell Research awards ($15 million) will support the establishment and operation of multi-institutional core research facilities to maximize the expertise, efficiency and quality of stem cell research in New York State. Awards of up to four years will fund specialized resources and facilities to be operated on a shared-use basis in support of basic, applied, translational, pre-clinical or clinical stem cell-related research.
State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., Chair of the Empire State Stem Cell Board, said: "These grants will ensure that the best and the brightest new stem cell investigators conduct their research in New York State, and that current stem cell scientists have the technology and expertise available to conduct world-class studies."
Governor Paterson spearheaded the effort to commit $600 million over a decade to advance stem cell science in New York. During the past year, the State invested $118 million from the Empire State Stem Cell Trust Fund to support promising stem cell scientists through the development of new infrastructure, research and training. Last month, the Governor announced the availability of $21.5 million to support additional stem cell research studies.
The State Department of Health administers the stem cell initiative through the New York State Stem Cell Science/NYSTEM program under the direction of the Empire State Stem Cell Board. The Board's Strategic Plan seeks to leverage New York's $600 million commitment to help create jobs, recruit and retain world-class investigators, and serve as a stimulus for private-sector investment in biomedical and biotechnological industries.
Applications are due on December 1, 2009. The full RFAs can be found on the DOH web site at www.nyhealth.gov/funding and on the NYSTEM web site at www.stemcell.ny.gov/research_support.html.