48 scientists receive funding from the
Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund to further research
COLUMBIA, Md., May 14, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission
("Commission") is pleased to announce the next round of awards
granting a total of more than $15.4
million. These awards are aimed at fostering groundbreaking
research to enhance and propel stem cell treatments and
technologies across Maryland.
48 scientists receive funding from the
Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund to further research
Several esteemed scientists from various Maryland-based research institutions and
companies have been selected as recipients in this grant cycle.
Among the 48 distinguished awardees are academic researchers from
prestigious institutions such as Johns Hopkins
University; University of Maryland,
Baltimore: University of
Maryland, College Park; Lieber Institute for Brain
Development; and the Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy
Krieger. Commercial sector entities like Seraxis Inc.,
Theradaptive, Inc., HOHCells, LLC, Agnos Therapeutics, Inc., and
Reprocell U.S.A., Inc. were also
awarded grants.
These pioneering researchers are addressing a wide array of
medical conditions, ranging from sickle cell anemia, type I
diabetes, cancer, dental diseases and chronic pain to diseases
directed to skin, heart, bone, blood, digestive and central nervous
system diseases.
Awardees submitted their proposals in response to the
Commission's Request for Applications (RFAs) for the second funding
round of fiscal year 2024. Earlier in the fiscal year, the
Commission also allocated nearly $4
million in additional research grants.
"The caliber of applications received during this funding cycle
was exceptional, resulting in a highly competitive selection
process," remarked Diane
Hoffmann, chair of the Commission. "We are excited to
provide support to the recipients of this second round, with their
proposals spanning early-stage research to clinical trials to
building manufacturing capabilities. These awards truly embody the
purpose and mission of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund."
"The increase in the number of applications submitted
underscores the heightened research and development activity in
stem cell-based technologies in Maryland," said Ruchika Nijhara,
Ph.D., executive director of Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund
(MSCRF). "This emphasizes the importance of continuing to foster
and strengthen the stem cell and regenerative medicine ecosystem in
our state and beyond. With new strategic initiatives, we aim to
foster collaboration between the private and public sectors,
strengthening the ecosystem and accelerating the development of
impactful medical solutions that can transform human lives."
The second round of MSCRF awards for the 2024 fiscal year
includes the following:
- Launch: These awards are to encourage new and
new-to-the-field faculty to bring innovative research and
technology to the regenerative medicine field. Totaling
$2,797,553, the Launch Award
recipients are Gianluca Ursini,
Ph.D. and Tomoyo Sawada, Ph.D. from
the Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Renyuan Bai, Ph.D. from the Hugo W. Moser
Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger; Man-Kyo Chung, Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore; Li Yan, Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park; and Payam
Mohassel, Ph.D., Chun-Hyun Na, Ph.D.
and Allen Eghrari, Ph.D. from
Johns Hopkins University.
- Commercialization: These awards are for
Maryland-based companies to
develop new human stem cell-based products. Totaling $1,692,428, the Commercialization Award
recipients are Jean-Philippe
Richard, Ph.D. from Reprocell, U.S.A., Inc.; Mandeep
Singh, Ph.D. from Agnos Therapeutics, Inc.; Xiaoming He, Ph.D. from HOH Cells, LLC; and
William Rust, Ph.D. from Seraxis,
Inc.
- Clinical: This award is for universities/research
institutes or companies that wish to conduct human stem cell-based
clinical trials in the State of
Maryland. Totaling $1,650,000,
the Clinical Award recipients are Luis
Garza, Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins
University and Luis Alvarez,
Ph.D. from Theradaptive Inc.
- Validation: This award supports faculty at Maryland-based universities/research
institutes with intellectual property (IP) for human stem
cell-based technologies that require additional validation.
Totaling $500,000 the validation
award recipients are Curt Civin,
Ph.D. from the University of Maryland,
Baltimore and Xinzhong Dong,
Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins
University.
- Discovery: These awards fund innovative ideas to
develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures.
Totaling $7,158,174, the Discovery
Award recipients include Chulan Kwon, Ph.D., Emmanouil Tampakakis,
Ph.D., Gabsang Lee, Ph.D., Hiromi Sesaki, Ph.D., Thomas Johnson, Ph.D., Xiaobo Mao, Ph.D., Charlotte Sumner, Ph.D., S. Amer Riazuddin, Ph.D., Zack Wang, Ph.D., Byoung
Chol Oh, Ph.D., Sashank
Reddy, Ph.D., Vasilki Machairak, Ph.D. and Annie Kathuria, Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University; and Raphael Meier, Ph.D., Ivy Dick, Ph.D., Xiaofeng Jia, Ph.D., Yajie Liang, Ph.D., Miroslaw Janowski, Ph.D., Graeme Woodworth, Ph.D., Chengyan Chu, Ph.D. and Iris Lindberg, Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship: These awards support
exceptional post-doctoral fellows conducting research in
Maryland. Totaling $1,300,000, award recipients include Neelima
Thottappillil, Ph.D., Cristina
Zivko, Ph.D., Mohit Kwatra,
Ph.D., Feiyu Yang, Ph.D., Heng Zhao,
Ph.D. and Ridzky Yuda, Ph.D. from Johns
Hopkins University; Jinghui
Wang, Ph.D. and Shalini
Sharma, Ph.D. from the University of
Maryland, Baltimore; and Niannian
Xu, Ph.D. and Wenshen Wang,
Ph.D. from the Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy
Krieger.
- Manufacturing Assistance: These awards provide
companies with funding to support the manufacturing
processes/infrastructure of stem cell therapy products in
Maryland. Totaling $344,402, the Manufacturing Assistance Award
recipient is Evelyn Chukwurah from
Reprocell, U.S.A., Inc.
Governor Wes Moore and the
Maryland General Assembly have
earmarked $20.5 million for fiscal
year 2025 to support the MSCRF, reaffirming the state's enduring
dedication to promoting innovative research in stem cell and
regenerative medicine within Maryland.
"This sustained financial backing is essential for propelling
capital and time-intensive stem cell technologies from bench to
bedside," said Nijhara.
The Commission is gearing up to release Requests for
Applications (RFAs) for its first round of FY25 funding and
anticipates an acceleration of pioneering research and innovative
cures through the various programs of MSCRF.
More information about all current MSCRF awardees is
available at https://www.mscrf.org/awardees.
About the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission
The
Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission is focused on identifying
and funding 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. Visit
us at www.mscrf.org to learn more about our funding
opportunities.
About TEDCO
TEDCO, the Maryland Technology
Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth
through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation
ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology
and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more
at www.tedcomd.com.
MSCRF Contact
Ruchika Nijhara, Executive Director,
MSCRF, rnijhara@tedcomd.com
Media Contact
Tammi
Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO,
tthomas@tedcomd.com
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SOURCE Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission