NEWS & EVENTS |
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Contact: Amy Hewes New M.S. Specialization in Stem Cell ResearchCal Poly is poised to become a leader in regenerative medicine as a result of a $1.4 million Bridges to Stem Cell Research Award to establish a master's degree specialization in stem cell research. 
"The grant not only promotes research projects, but it also means Cal Poly can now help address the critical need for professionals capable of translating research discoveries into stem cell based therapies," states Dr. Trevor Cardinal, BMED professor and one of the directors of the new program. The Bridges Award comes from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state agency created to distribute nearly $3 billion in bond funding approved by the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004. CIRM is the largest source of funding for human embryonic and multi-use stem cell research. Cal Poly's new Master's of Science degree specialization in Stem Cell Research will be offered to ten students each year. The program has three main components: coursework, a research internship, and a thesis project. According the Cardinal, the built-in internship makes Cal Poly's program unique. "The grad students will spend nine months working with one of our partner institutions on a rigorous project in a research-intensive environment," he explains. "And when they return for the culmination of their degrees, they will integrate their experience into stem cell research projects on campus." Cal Poly's stem cell research partners include Stanford, the Salk Institute, Scripps Institute, UC San Diego, and Novocell, a company that manufactures insulin-producing cells for diabetics. Prop. 71 provided hope to millions who suffer from diseases or injuries that are currently incurable, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, blindness, Lou Gehrig's disease, HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and more than 70 other diseases and injuries. With its new focus on stem cell research, Cal Poly is part of the cure for these devastating illnesses. For more information about CIRM see http://www.cirm.ca.gov/ # # # |
Aniefon
Ekanem
Electrical Engineering
2007
“My path to Cal Poly is a little longer than most.”
I was born in Nigeria and went to high school in Bakersfield. I've always been interested in solid state and polymer electronics, so when my engineering club at Bakersfield College announced a field trip to Cal Poly, I was definitely excited. Like a lot of people, I immediately fell in love with it here. |
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