HSCI/California Junior Faculty Symposium

HSCI’s junior faculty started off this academic year with a  symposium with their California colleagues to foster idea sharing. Millipore and Cell Press (Cambridge, Mass.) were financial sponsors of this meeting that was convened by  HSCI with the purpose of developing collaborations among the leading young scientists in the country. Coordinated by  HSCI principal faculty member, Niels Geijsen, the two-day program was jammed with presentations by HSCI investigators as well as 14 scientists associated with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Discussion focused on the major scientific questions in topics such  s pluripotency, epigenetics and reprogramming, neural systems,  and a variety of special topics. Due to its tremendous  value this year, participants are planning a second meeting next year in California. 

CIRM was established in early 2005 with the passage of  Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures  Initiative. California’s statewide ballot measure provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities  and research institutions. CIRM is the state-level agency that provides  grants and loans for stem cell research, research facilities,  and other vital research opportunities.