Baltimore Business Journal -- The state is now seeking applications for stem cell research grants — but officials warned the $19 million fund could shrink in the coming weeks.The state’s stem cell fund could be a target for cuts as Gov. Martin O’Malley prepares to make budget reductions at the Board of Public Works’ Oct. 15 meeting, according to the Maryland Stem Cell Commission. Waning tax receipts have created a $432 million shortfall in fiscal year 2009, which began July 1.
But bioscience industry leaders argue the stem cell research funding is important in developing the state’s biotech industry and keeping Maryland competitive with other states.
The amount of money in the state stem cell fund is already less than the $23 million what was doled out in fiscal 2008. Applications for that pot of money totaled $62 million in research grants, however. In fiscal 2007, $15 million in grants were awarded.
The commission is seeking letters of intent from interested researchers by Nov. 14, and full applications are due Jan. 15.
The state is offering three types of grants: one for investigators with preliminary data on their research; one for exploratory research by investigators new to the stem cell field; and one for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellows conducting basic or transitional research on all types of human stem cells.
All work funded by the state must be done within Maryland.
The General Assembly created the stem cell commission as an independent unit within the Maryland Technology Development Corp. in 2006.
