Cal State Long Beach biology professor Elizabeth Eldon approached fellow professor Lisa Klig in 2008 with a big idea that translated into a $1.37 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
Because of a push by Eldon and writing from Klig, CIRM is helping to fund CSULB’s stem cell research program.
In its second year, the Bridges to Stem Cell Research program is partially funded by CIRM grants, like the one awarded this year. It is also helping CSULB students move forward in the emerging field of stem cell research.
“It gives us a chance to see what’s out there and work,” said Tien Vo, a graduate of the certificate program.
Vo and fellow graduate Melissa Jones highlighted the newly awarded grant as well as the successes of the program at a symposium Wednesday. Vo credited the program with her recent hire at City of Hope, a cancer research center she interned for.
According to Klig, the program aims to educate the public regarding stem cells, train students in stem cell research and ensure that those trained remain in California’s workforce.
The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and CSULB’s biology department seemed pleased with the results. Sixty percent of future jobs will require math and science skills but only 25 percent of CSULB students have these skills, Kingsford said at the symposium. “We must fill this gap,” she added.
She wasn’t alone in this suggestion.
“Faculty research is important to student training,” said Brian Livingston, a CSULB biology professor who studies development and evolution of certain marine embryos.
In 2004, Proposition 71 was passed by way of California’s initiative process. The proposition established CIRM and set aside $3 billion for stem cell research. According to Eldon, the CSU was originally “written out” of the proposition but heavy lobbying created opportunities for CSUs similar to the one earned by CSULB.
This year, CIRM awarded more than 350 grants that totaled more than $1 billion. Stanford University led all awarded institutions — private and public — with 49 grants, totaling more than $173 million. San Jose State University led all CSUs with a single $1.7 million grant.
CIRM’s funding of the three-year program is set to expire in 2012. Klig said it is expected to be extended.
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