The UC Davis stem cell program will benefit from $20 million in state funding for its $62 million specialized research facility in Sacramento following approval May 7 from the governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

The grant is the largest UC Davis has received to date for stem cell research.

UC Davis was one of 12 institutions in California to receive funding from CIRM's Major Facilities Grant Program. It is among seven entities around the state that now will be designated as "CIRM Institutes," meaning that its work will focus on three key categories in regenerative medicine: basic and discovery stem cell research, preclinical (translational) research, and preclinical development and clinical research.

The grant helps expedite renovations already under way at the university's Sacramento campus on a research facility for regenerative medicine that eventually will create 100,000 square feet of space. The existing building on Stockton Boulevard is being redesigned to meet the immediate- and near-term needs of a rapidly growing stem cell program. Plans call for the facility to be a major hub for research and collaboration among scientists and clinicians in a variety of academic departments both in Davis and in Sacramento.

"What is so important about this grant," said Ann Bonham, executive associate dean for Academic Affairs and a professor of pharmacology and internal medicine, "is that it greatly expands our research capacity, providing a vital portion of support for a cutting-edge facility that will bring together teams working toward therapies for a variety of diseases and medical conditions."

She added, "Under one roof, we'll have physician researchers and stem cell scientists working on everything from kidney, heart and lung diseases to bladder reconstruction, vascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease."

The new facility not only will allow investigators to address basic cell biology questions and pursue safety and efficacy studies, it will contain a unique and highly sophisticated "Good Manufacturing Practice" lab and testing area for the development of FDA-approved cellular therapies.

"Our entire building is being built with an eye toward clinical trials and discovering cures for patients in need," said Jan Nolta, director of UC Davis' stem cell program.

She added, "In the coming year, our stem cell research facility will house what we're calling 'disease teams,' groups of scientists and clinicians who will work together to develop treatments and cures for patients. We're planning to begin clinical trials using adult stem cell treatments almost as soon as the doors are opened in the summer of 2009."

The initial phase of renovation creates approximately 54,000 feet of space and will include the following:

• FDA-approved Good Manufacturing Practice facility
• Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) barrier facility
• Basic ("discovery") research laboratory space
• Translational research space in an open, wet-bench laboratory
• Stem cell storage bank
• Fluorescence-activated cell sorting core space
• Laboratory support areas, including dedicated workrooms and conference rooms
• Central corridor space, with areas for meeting and collaboration

"All of these elements, in one location, enhance our ability to move basic stem cell research from the lab bench to the clinical setting with patients," said Nolta. "Having multidisciplinary teams working together greatly increases the odds for breakthrough discoveries."

Matching funds to complete construction of the $62 million project will come from the university, as well as from individuals and foundation grants.

The UC Davis stem cell program has been awarded more than $14 million in various grants from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine.

More information: www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/stemcellresearch.