Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., applying proprietary human embryonic stem (ES) cell technology to the emerging field of regenerative medicine, has been awarded a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the amount of $204,439 in conjunction with a research project currently underway with one of its academic partners, The Burnham Institute of Medical Research (Burnham Institute).
?This grant is momentous in part because it reflects the changing political climate and the federal government?s move toward considerably greater support for research into embryonic stem cell science,? said William M. Caldwell, IV, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Cell. ?Increases in federal funding can trigger very significant growth in our industry, and grants such as these help companies like Advanced Cell deliver stem cell-based therapies to the bedside.?
The grant, titled, ?Directed Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells using Phage Displayed Ligands,? unites Advanced Cell?s expertise in embryonic stem cell biology, phage display, phage targeting technology and gene discovery, with Burnham Institute?s expertise in developmental biology, cardiac biology, and vascular biology, among others.
?In today?s world, medical research is increasingly a collaborative enterprise,? said Dr. Michael West, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Advanced Cell. ?We are thankful to the NIH and NIDCR for their support and confidence, and we are pleased to be collaborating with the Burnham Institute on this important project.?
The NIH grant is issued under a program to foster collaboration between business and academia, and is an important step forward for Advanced Cell proprietary science in the field of embryonic stem cell technology. The award was granted to the company by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a division of the NIH.