Grants and Contracts Awarded

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.

Program Updates

	ESSCB Strategic Plan At its May 13, 2008, meeting the Empire State Stem Cell Board approved release for public review a draft strategic plan. Comments were accepted through June 20, 2008, and will now be considered by the Board.
	Full Board Meeting The Funding Committee, the Ethics Committee and the full Empire State Stem Cell Board will meet on Friday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in New York City.