The Commission voted Dec. 16 in a public meeting to award Stem Cell Research Grants to the following:
Treena Arinzeh Ph.D. New Jersey Institute of Technology $295,362
Nanofiber Scaffold for Stem Cell Based Cartilage Repair
To test whether stem cells can be used to repair cartilage defects with the potential for providing new tissue engineering therapies that could help cancer patients who have had tumors removed from bones, osteoporosis and other cartilage and tendon damage.
Rick Cohen Ph.D Rutgers University $299,403
Center for Applied Training in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Biology
To provide basic and advanced training in the field of human embryonic stem cell biology and to develop a well-trained pool of scientists in New Jersey proficient in hESC culture techniques with the goal of advancing New Jersey’s leadership in stem cell research.
Ronald Hart Ph.D.Rutgers University $275,590
Regulation of microRNA Gene Expression in Differentiating Neural Stem Cells
To understand and control differentiation of neural stem cells with the potential to produce specific cell types for therapeutic transplant in brain trauma, stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Hristo Houbaviy Ph.D. UMDNJ-RWJMS $300,000
MicroRNAs MiR-290-295 in Blastocyst-Derived Stem Cells and the Early Mouse Embryo
To understand stem cell development and lineage determination with the goal of expanding and improving knowledge of areas of stem cell biology currently not well understood.
Ihor Lemischka Ph.D Princeton University $300,000
Genome-Wide Functional Analysis of ES Cell fate Regulation
To understand human embryonic stem cell decisions such as survival/death, renewal/determination and to understand how to maintain or induce specific cell fate with the goal of applying this knowledge to patient therapies.
Randall McKinnon Ph.D. UMDNJ-RWJMS $300,000
Gliogenic Potential of Human Placental Stem Cells
To identify mechanisms of glial cell generation from human placental cells with the goal of identifying a potential alternative to embryonic stem cells for clinical trials. In collaboration with Celgene, a New Jersey-based biotech firm ranked sixth largest internationally.
Kateri Moore DVM Princeton University $299,970
Interactive Mechanisms of Stem Cells and Microenvironments
To further understand the mechanisms of stem cell self-renewal and commitment toward the purpose of developing new therapies or advancing existing therapies for use in drug development and for gene and cell therapy for immunological and other diseases.
Richard Nowakowski Ph.D. UMDNJ-RWJMS $300,000
Molecular Circuitry of “Stemness” in the Developing CNS
To learn how to reprogram or teach transplanted cells how to generate the right type and number of necessary cells for cell-replacement therapies with the potential for replacing specific brain areas damaged by disease or injury.
Robert Preti Ph.D. Amorcyte, Inc. $298,200
Bone Marrow Derived CD34 Cells for Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction
To produce a cell therapy product using bone marrow-derived cells for treatment of coronary damage following a heart attack and advance the company’s federal Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical trials with the potential for new and more effective therapy for cardiac patients.
Ling Qin Ph.D. UMDNJ-RWJMS $300,000
PTH-Mediated AGFR Signaling in Stromal Stem Cell Growth and Multidifferentiation
To conduct fundamental research using bone marrow stem cells with the potential to develop more effective treatments for low bone mass and similar disorders.
Monica Roth Ph.D. UMDNJ-RWJMS $300,000
Selective Gene Delivery to Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells
To apply novel genetic screening approaches to stem cells with the potential of enhancing the ability to use stem cells and gene therapy in many clinical settings, including treating hematopoietic disorders and cancer.
Junichi Sadoshima M.D. Ph.D. UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School $300,000
Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation
To increase the efficiency of stem cell differentiation into cardiac myocytes by manipulating a particular signaling mechanism with the potential for developing an effective method to repair damaged heart tissues.
Biagio Saitta Ph.D. The Coriell Institute for Medical Research $300,000
Role of Extracellular Matrix in Cord Blood Stem Cell Response to Cardiac Injury
To use stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood to study the molecular mechanisms of stem cells in repairing damaged areas of the heart with the potential to heal damaged tissue and preserve or regain function, offering an alternative to transplants which are possible but limited by the number of donors.
Michael Shen Ph.D UMDNJ-RWJMS $300,000
Role of the Nodal signaling pathway in regulation of embryonic pluripotency
To enhance fundamental understanding of basic molecular functions in mice and human stem cells with the potential for improving manipulation of ES cells in culture for use in stem cell-based therapies including possible insights into the genesis and dysregulation of cancer stem cells.
Thomas Shenk Ph.D. Princeton University $300,000
Isolation and Characterization of Life-Extended Human Cord Blood Cells
To produce populations of stem cells from human cord blood that can be used to study the molecular characteristics of such cells including how to modulate these growth responses in vivo and in culture with the potential to improve the clinical uses of stem cells.
Yufang Shi, DVM, Ph.D. UMDNJ-RWJMS $300,000
Immunobiology of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
To investigate the mechanisms underlying stem cell mediated immune tolerance and its use in treatment of autoimmune disorders with the potential to lead to new treatment for many human diseases in which the immune system attacks the body, including MS and asthma.
Jay Tischfield Ph.D Rutgers University $300,000
Genetic and Structural Analysis of Mouse ES Cells and their Derivatives
To study cultured ESC and confirm, monitor and regulate phenomena that would be deleterious to tissues derived from stems cells with the potential to prevent problems that could slow development of stem cell therapies.
