NYSTEM supports awards for basic and translational scientific research; infrastructure development; scientific training; and ethical, legal, and social issues and education (ELSIE) relating to stem cells. Awards that fall into multiple categories, supporting both training and research, for instance, will be listed under all applicable categories. These pages contain information for past and ongoing projects.
Investigator Initiated Research Projects (IIRP) and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research
On February 13, 2014, the Funding Committee of the ESSCB recommended funding for 34 new research awards. This is the fourth round of NYSTEM's generic funding mechanism. The 34 new awards are comprised of 15 IDEA awards and 19 IIRP awards, and the total value is $24.9 million.
Shared Facilities for Stem Cell Research
On October 3, 2013, the ESSCB's Funding Committee recommended funding for seven awards to establish, expand and operate specialized resources and facilities. These facilities will be operated on a shared-use basis and support basic, applied, translational (mechanistic, technological), pre-clinical or clinical stem cell-related research.
Consortia to Accelerate Therapeutic Applications of Stem Cell Research
The ESSCB's Funding Committee recommended three consortia for awards at a meeting on November 16, 2012. The resulting consortia will accelerate clinical applications of stem cell research for the prevention or treatment of diseases. These collaborative proposals address unmet medical needs using stem cells as their basis for therapeutic treatments and offer advantages over other alternatives in practice or development. The total value of these awards is $37.8 million and represents a significant investment by the NYSTEM program in support of stem cell-based therapies.
Investigator Initiated Research Projects and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research
On May 22 and September 24, 2012, the ESSCB Funding Committee approved another group of Investigator Initiated Research Projects (IIRP) and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research awards. In this, the third round of NYSTEM's generic funding mechanism, 34 awards were granted with a total value of $24.4 million.
Short Term Faculty Training and Stem Cell Research Training for Medical, Dental and Veterinary Students
On May 22, the ESSCB Funding Committee recommended an award for Short Term Faculty Training and Collaborative Opportunities RFA. At the same meeting, the ESSCB Funding Committee also recommended two awards for Empire State Medical, Dental and Veterinary Student Stem Cell Research Training Program RFA.
Empire State Institutional Training Programs in Stem Cell Research for Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellows
Awards were made to four institutions to provide funding for institutionally-based training programs that will enable New York State to attract and retain the most promising and exceptionally talented predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows. These awards will support the continued training of researchers with exceptional potential for making significant contributions to stem cell research.
Shared Facilities for Stem Cell Research
Awards were made to seven institutions, for a total of $27.3 million, to support shared facilities for stem cell research. These shared use facilities will help researchers isolate, derive, and characterize stem cell lines, including disease specific cell lines; develop animal models; provide high-throughput analyses of cells; and maintain quality control and laboratory supplies needed for stem cell experiments.
Empire State Stem Cell Scholars: Fellow-to-Faculty Awards in Stem Cell Research
Awards were made to three institutions to support Empire State Stem Cell Scholars, for a total of $3.2 million. These scholars are eligible for up to two years of continued postdoctoral training in stem cell-relevant research, followed by up to three years of funding for independent stem cell research at the faculty level. The awards will enable New York State to attract and retain the most promising and exceptionally talented postdoctoral fellows in the early stages of their careers, then transition them to independent tenure track positions at institutions within New York State.
Investigator Initiated Research Projects and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research
A total of $34.7 million in Investigator Initiated Research Projects (IIRP) and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research awards were made in a second round of funding. These awards will stimulate and support scientific investigations on aspects of stem cell biology that will lead to a better understanding of the unique properties of stem cells and allow their use to treat diseases. 52 awards were made to 49 investigators at 15 institutions across the state. IIRP awards are for up to $1.08 million over three years and IDEA awards are for up to $330,000 over two years
Targeted Projects in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Three institutions received awards totaling $2.9 million to support efforts to derive and characterize new human embryonic stem cell lines to: devise novel and improved derivation methods; increase efficiency in the production of new cell lines; standardize protocols to improve comparisons between human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells; and enhance the potential of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells for clinical application.
Development and Implementation of College and University Curricula Concerning Stem Cell Science and Related Ethical, Legal and Societal Implications
Awards were made to five institutions for a total of $1.43 million to support the development of an undergraduate level course, or modules within a course, on stem cell science and its ethical, legal and social implications.
Summer Undergraduate Experience in Stem Cell Research
Three institutions received awards for a total of $0.7 million to create opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research in the rapidly advancing field of stem cell biology; to deepen their understanding of the field and learn specialized techniques under the guidance of an experienced stem cell investigator; and to foster their appreciation of the broader context in which stem cell research occurs, including related cultural, historical, clinical and ethical issues.
Investigator Initiated Research Projects and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research
A total of $53.1 million in Investigator Initiated Research Projects and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research awards were made to stimulate and support scientific investigations on aspects of stem cell biology that will lead to a better understanding of the unique properties of stem cells and allow their use to treat disease. Awards were made to 78 investigators, with a maximum of $240,000 for two-year IDEA proposals and a maximum of $1,080,000 for investigator-initiated projects.
Targeted RFA for Investigation of iPS and Other Derivation Approaches
Twenty awards totaling $16.3 million were made for Targeted Investigation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) and Other Derivation Approaches. These aim to stimulate and support investigations to develop improved methods for deriving pluripotent stem cell lines; defining the reprogramming mechanisms; and comparing the utility of iPS with embryonic and other pluripotent stem cells for use in disease models and potential therapeutic applications.
Shared Facilities/Resources and Equipment/Instrumentation for Stem Cell Research
Shared Facilities/Resources and Equipment/Instrumentation for Stem Cell Research awards were made to nine institutions, for a total of $32.4 million. The shared use facilities will help researchers isolate, derive, and characterize stem cell lines, including disease specific cell lines; develop animal models; provide high-throughput analyses of cells; and maintain quality control and laboratory supplies needed for stem cell experiments.
Consortia Planning Awards
On September 19, 2008, the ESSCB funding committee recommended $2 million in awards to 18 institutions. These one-year planning contracts are designed to assist New York state research institutions in the development of research consortia and other emerging opportunities in stem cell research. Funds are provided for planning purposes only; no research activities are funded through these awards.
Merit Peer Review
NYSTEM received three high-quality proposals in response to a Request for Proposals issued on November 5, 2007 for an Independent Scientific and Technical Merit Peer Review contractor. On January 7, 2008, the Funding Committee of the Empire State Stem Cell Board voted to authorize the Department of Health to proceed with the negotiation of a contract with the successful bidder, the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). The anticipated start date for this five-year contract is April 1, 2008.
Institutional Development
On January 7, 2008, the Funding Committee also voted to award a total of $14.5 million to support stem cell research and training at 25 institutions that responded to a Request for Applications issued on November 14, 2007. The one-year institutional development awards were designed to increase the capacity of New York State research institutions to engage in stem cell research. Together these awards provide $6.1 million for direct stem cell research, $7.4 million for stem cell research infrastructure, and $1 million for stem cell research training.