STEM CALL RESEARCH FUNDING
Tom Killmond, PA-C
Fiscal 2008 is the second year of State funding for stem cell research. At $23 million, the fiscal 2008 appropriation represents an $8 million increase over fiscal 2007. The stem cell program was established by Chapter 19 of 2006 to support activity at research institutions or private companies in Maryland. As of April 9, 2007, the $15.0 million in fiscal 2007 funds had not been awarded.
Requests for funding total $80.8 million and are divided into two applicant groups. One group represents investigators with some experience in stem cell research who have preliminary data supporting their research topic. There were 41 of these applications totaling $70.7 million, and the awards for this group may be up to $500,000 of direct costs per year for up to three years. The other group represents researchers who are new to the stem cell field and are developing innovative approaches or models without any preliminary data. There were 45 of these applications totaling $10.1 million, and the awards for this group may be up to $100,000 of direct costs per year for up to two years.
The Stem Cell Research Commission was established in July 2006 and is responsible for reviewing the proposed research process for each project and making final decisions about research grant and loan awards. In early 2007, the research commission formed the Scientific Peer Review Committee that considers how the projects adhere to medical research standards. Fiscal 2007 awards are expected to be made in late April 2007.