UCI receives grant for stem cell education

UC Irvine has received a $674,000 grant to begin training students in the biology, ethics and policy of stem cell research.

The money, part of $12.1 million the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine gave to institutions statewide, will be used to fund the first year of education for eight graduate and four postdoctoral students.

“We’re pleased that these funds are now available and can be used to train the next generation of top researchers and clinicians,” Peter Donovan, interim co-director of UCI’s stem cell center, said in a news release. “We need our best and brightest young scientists to get the education they need in this emerging research area.”

The UCI funds do not come directly from Proposition 71, the $3-billion stem cell research bond measure approved by voters in 2004. The sale of those bonds is being held up by legal challenges to the measure.

Instead, the money for the training grants comes from the sale of $14 million in what are known as bond anticipation notes to six California charities. The notes will be repaid once the Prop. 71 bonds are issued.

Once more money is available, UCI hopes to build a $60-million stem cell research facility.