New Jersey’s stem cell research initiative is a multi-faceted effort to create and build a vibrant stem cell research community that will develop innovative treatments for patients and generate economic opportunity and job growth in New Jersey.

New Jersey is home to a world-class life sciences industry. New Jersey has invested in a spectrum of programs creating a supportive environment for stem cell research, such as a free source of stem cells for research, immediate funding for ground-breaking research and specialized lab equipment.

New Jersey’s stem cell research initiative is committed:

• To advance New Jersey’s position as a leader in scientific research and bring the benefits of stem cell research to New Jersey residents
• To encourage and enable the state’s renowned research and life sciences communities to develop quality, innovative treatments for patients
• To support ground-breaking research that contributes to the understanding of stem cells and their potential and the translation of such research to patient treatment
• To generate economic opportunity and job growth in New Jersey by accelerating commercialization of new therapies and new technologies related to stem cell research

The Commission on Science and Technology is currently accepting proposals for the $10 million New Jersey Stem Cell Research Grant Program. The purpose of this announcement is to invite proposals for funding of projects at academic, not-for-profit, and for-profit institutions with their principal place of business in the State of New Jersey. In order to meet the goals of both patient treatment and economic development, the Commission will seek to fund proposals that demonstrate means for translation to patient treatment through collaborations or otherwise and that create a foundation and capacity in New Jersey for a vibrant stem cell research / biotech / patient treatment community.

Individual research grants are available in amounts up to $300,000 and core facilities grants are available in amounts of $1 million to $3 million.

In December 2005, New Jersey became the first state to finance research using human embryonic stem cells (hESC), including hESC lines prohibited from use in research by federal funding restrictions.

The Commission on Science and Technology awarded a total of $5 million to 17 research teams at university, nonprofit institution and corporate labs in New Jersey for ground-breaking research into potential therapies for devastating and debilitating disorders.  These Stem Cell Research Grants are financing research ranging from fundamental inquiries to understand differentiation in human embryonic stem cells to investigations of an FDA-approved therapy using cells from a patient’s own bone marrow to repair damaged heart tissue. Other successful research proposals include production of specific cell types for therapeutic transplant to treat brain trauma, stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. The creation of a center to train New Jersey scientists to work with human embryonic stem cells and potential therapies for autoimmune disorders including MS and asthma, and other debilitating disorders could all benefit from stem cell research.

View the complete list of grant awardees

View the process used to award the Stem Cell Research Grants

Governor Corzine recently signed legislation (A-2828/S-1471) to provide $270 million to build and equip five stem cell and biomedical research facilities in New Jersey.

This groundbreaking legislation will create facilities that will attract the world’s best researchers to partner with the state’s renowned life sciences industry to unravel the mysteries of stem cells in order to develop cures for now-hopeless degenerative and neurological disorders.

The Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities Initiative includes:

• $150 million for the Stem Cell Institute of New jersey in new Brunswick
• $50 million for stem cell facilities at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark
• $50 million for biomedical research facilities located at Rutgers-Camden
• $10 million for blood collection facilities operated by Elie Katz Umbilical Cord Blood Program
• $10 million for the Garden State Cancer Center

View more Institute details

In December 2005 the Commission awarded the Ellie Katz Umbilical Cord Blood Program and the Coriell Institute for Medical Research $350,000 each to create the nation’s first public cord and placental blood bank for stem cell research. This program provides researchers with a reliable source of stem cells from public donations of umbilical and placental blood. This resource – the first one in the nation -- enables researchers to pursue promising efforts to translate the miracles of stem cells into therapies that can help suffering patients. Creating a research bank of samples donated by the public, and available for public research, will benefit the public at large by greatly increasing the available donor pool for life-saving transplantation procedures. 

Visit the Coriell Institute for Medical Research Stem Cell Resource site

Visit the Ellie Katz Umbilical Cord Blood Program site