UC Davis has received its first funds from California's new stem cell agency, which was established after voters approved Proposition 71 in 2004.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine distributed nearly $900,000 to UC Davis for a new and comprehensive program designed specifically to train young physician/scientists in stem cell research. The funding represents the first year of a three-year, $2.6 million grant awarded to UC Davis last fall by the agency.

Prop. 71 funds had been delayed by litigation. The UC Davis grant is among a first round of $12 million worth of grants awarded by the institute, funded by the sale of $14 million of bond anticipation notes to six California philanthropic entities.

The grant will support 12 pre- and post-doctoral students and clinical fellows in a multidisciplinary program to help them become more technically skilled and knowledgeable in stem cell research and its related ethical, legal and social implications.

"This is great news," said Fred Meyers, senior associate dean for academic affairs and the principal investigator on the grant. "It means we can now start training more young researchers and physician scientists to better understand and advance this exciting area. We plan to have these talented individuals working alongside some of our most dedicated and experienced faculty members, which can only add to the potential for breakthrough discoveries in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy."

Meyers said the application process for potential trainees would begin immediately. He also expects to have at least some applicants through that process and actually working by this summer.

Collaborative approach

UC Davis' training program emphasizes a collaborative, team approach to helping young researchers obtain the experience and practice needed to successfully work with stem cells. It will consist of mentors from the School of Medicine, as well as from veterinary medicine, engineering, biological sciences, agriculture and environmental sciences, law and management.

The new program encourages interaction among trainees from different fields, and it also includes collaboration and training with researchers from UC Merced.

The project adds to the number of stem cell research activities already under way at UC Davis.

Last fall, the National Institutes of Health awarded $6 million to fund a Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research at the university, one of only two such centers in the nation.

The new center is focused on exploring stem and progenitor cell therapies for the treatment of childhood diseases including those that affect the blood and kidneys.