Welcome to the UC Irvine Stem Cell Research Center

UCI is now recruiting for Assistant and Associate Professor Positions in Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology
New stem cell technique improves genetic alteration


Peter Donovan


Leslie Lock


Kristi Hohenstein

UC Irvine researchers have discovered a dramatically improved method for genetically manipulating human embryonic stem cells, making it easier for scientists to study and potentially treat thousands of disorders ranging from Huntington's disease to muscular dystrophy and diabetes.

The technique for the first time blends two existing cell-handling methods to improve cell survival rates and increase the efficiency of inserting DNA into cells. The new approach is up to 100 times more efficient than current methods at producing human embryonic stem cells with desired genetic alterations.

"The ability to generate large quantities of cells with altered genes opens the door to new research into many devastating disorders," said Peter Donovan, professor of biological chemistry and developmental and cell biology at UCI, and co-director of the UCI Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. “Not only will it allow us to study diseases more in-depth, it also could be a key step in the successful development of future stem cell therapies.

This study appears online this week in the journal Stem Cells.

Donovan and Leslie Lock, assistant adjunct professor of biological chemistry and developmental and cell biology at UCI, previously identified proteins called growth factors that help keep cells alive. Growth factors are like switches that tell cells how to behave, for example to stay alive, divide or remain a stem cell. Without a signal to stay alive, the cells die.

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Two new opportunities for funding through The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) will be announced soon.

The first is for Disease Team Planning Grants, and the second for Pluripotent Human Stem Cell Line Generation. You can access more information about each of these at http://www.cirm.ca.gov/press/pdf/2007/10-03-07_a.pdf.

Please note that since a maximum of FOUR Disease Team Planning Grant proposals will be allowed per institution, an internal competition may be necessary, and that will be handled by Marie Richman, the Director, Administration and Research Policy in the Office of Research. Check the CIRM website for the posting of the RFAs.

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Recent News

UC Irvine's stem cell facility proposal ranks high in first round of funding evaluations
UC Irvine's proposal to build a state-of-the art stem cell institute on campus cleared its first hurdle this week, placing third among 12 state institutions in the running for Major Facilities Grants administered by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Program Announcement Concept Proposal: CIRM Conference Grants
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) recognizes the value of supporting high quality conferences and scientific meetings in the state of California that are relevant to its scientific mission of supporting and advancing stem cell research and regenerative medicine to enable cures, therapies, diagnostics and research technologies for chronic disease and injury. more...

RFA Concept Proposal: CIRM New Faculty Awards II
The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine is a new area of research that requires a cadre of well-trained scientists and clinicians to develop treatments and cures. more...

Discovery of 'creator' gene for cerebral cortex points to potential stem cell treatments

UCI engineer awarded $2.1 million for stem cell research
Grant brings total CIRM funding for UCI to $19.6

UCI scientists find new way to sort stem cells
Method could speed the production of future stem cell therapies

Epicenter for stem cell research
Scientists at UC Irvine have long been pioneers in the fields of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

UCI to hire 5 Stem Cell Scientists
UC Irvine says it will create five new faculty positions for stem cell biologists, hoping to expand and deepen the university’s work in one of the fastest growing branches of biomedical research

Multiple sclerosis patients to tour UCI stem cell center
The UC Irvine Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center is opening its core laboratory on Thursday, Nov. 15, to community members with multiple sclerosis.

$7.9 million awarded to UCI stem cell scientists Projects headed by Doug Wallace, Hans Keirstead and Peter Donovan were selected by the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), the governing board of CIRM, for comprehensive research grants. These projects focus on mitochondria, the creation of cells to treat spinal cord injuries, and the genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem cells.

UCI awarded $3.5 million for stem cell research UC Irvine scientists were awarded $3.5 million in the first wave of stem cell research funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), its governing board decided today. Six UCI projects - with focuses ranging from muscular dystrophy to mitochondria - were selected by the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC) for two-year Scientific Excellence through Exploration and Development (SEED) grants.
'Lord of the Rings' director makes donation to UCI stem cell research Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning director of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and writer/producer Fran Walsh, have donated $311,000 to UC Irvine to fund the work of up-and-coming stem cell scientists.
PIMCO founder and wife donate $10 million to stem cell research at UCI. Sue J. Gross and William H. Gross have made a $10 million gift to UC Irvine to support stem cell research. Two million dollars of the contribution will be immediately allocated to support the Stem Cell Research Center at UCI.
California awards $674,000 stem cell grant to UC Irvine. Funding, part of expected $2 million investment by California Institute for Regenerative Medicine in UCI, will support training programs for young stem cell biologists.
Hans Keirstead on CBS' "60 Minutes". UCI stem cell researcher Hans Keirstead was featured in a recent segment of "60 Minutes." The segment explored Keirstead's efforts to develop a stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury.
Peter Donovan joins UCI Stem Cell Research Center. Developmental biologist renowned for pioneering research into the basic properties of stem cells appointed to UCI faculty.
Adult Human Neural Stem Cell Therapy Treats Spinal Injury in Rats. UCI researchers Aileen Anderson and Brian Cummings show impact of stem cells on spinal tissue regeneration.