$5M for stem cell research available [New Jersey]

TRENTON - The state Commission on Science and Technology yesterday said it will begin accepting applications for the $5 million in grant money the state is making available for stem cell research conducted in New Jersey.

Grants, which will be capped at $300,000, may be awarded to a broad array of projects, including basic stem cell biology using human or non-human, adult or embryonic stem cells, clinical work, and the development of training programs, among other areas.

The grant applications will be reviewed by independent panels for their scientific merit and ethical appropriateness, members of the commission said yesterday.

Ethical considerations include the assurance of appropriate care for donated stem cells and the unambiguous consent by donors, said Harold Shapiro, the former president of Princeton University who heads the ethics advisory panel overseeing the state-funded research.