Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Announces $1,351,400 Million in Stem Cell Program Awards
COLUMBIA, Md. (September 10, 2019)—The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission (Commission) has approved funding to its first round of fiscal year 2020 recipients for a total of $1,351,400. The Commission has also announced new leadership with the election of a new chair and vice chair to serve for the next two years.
“I am excited to step up and serve as the next chair of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission,” said Dr. Debra Mathews. “I would like to thank outgoing chair Dr. David Mosser for his leadership, and congratulate Dr. Curt Van Tassell who will join me as the vice chair of the Commission.”
Established by the governor and the Maryland General Assembly through the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006, the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) promotes state-funded stem cell research and cures through grants to both public and private entities in Maryland. To date, over $155 million and 465 grants have been committed and for this year (FY2020) the program has a budget of $8.2 million.
“We are enthusiastic about the volume and the high-level of the applications and are looking forward to working with these awardees,” said Dr. Dan Gincel, executive director of MSCRF. “These university validation projects and company commercialization awards have some of the most advanced science and technology we have yet to see.”
The MSCRF awards of the 2020 fiscal year include:
- 3 Commercialization: These awards assist with the creation of start-up companies or new technologies developed in Maryland-based companies. Totaling $892,080, the commercialization award recipients are Brian Pollok of Propagenix, Inc., Jamie Niland of NeoProgen, Inc., and Ines Silva of Reprocell, USA.
- 2 Validation: These awards fund new innovative research ideas in the stem cell field. Totaling $459,320, the validation award recipients are Amer Riazuddin and Peter Andersen of Johns Hopkins University.
Information about all current MSCRF awardees is available at https://www.mscrf.org/awardees. Information about the Commission members and future meetings is available at https://www.mscrf.org/mscr-commission.
Both the Commission and the MSCRF are administered by TEDCO, the go-to source for entrepreneurial support and guidance for start-ups and early-stage companies engaged in bringing innovative ideas to market.
About the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission is focused on identifying and fostering cutting-edge research and innovation in the field of regenerative medicine in Maryland. Our Accelerating Cures initiative comprises programs that help transition human stem cell-based technologies from the bench to the bedside as well as mechanisms to build and grow stem cell companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.mscrf.org about our funding opportunities.