$1m for stem cell research

The Victorian and NSW governments have announced a fund of $1 million for a collaborative stem cell research program.

Each state will provide $500,000 to the program, which will require research collaboration between both states, although national and international collaboration is being encouraged.

The grants will also require compliance with legislation involving human embryonic stem cells.

The main aim of the program is to improve the sustainability of techniques, technical expertise and the range of applications for stem cell research and in particular the advancement of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) techniques.

NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Verity Firth, said the new funding, along with regulatory certainty regarding human embryonic stem cell research, will help further research into producing tailored human stem cell lines for therapeutic use.

Guidelines and application forms are available from Business Victoria and the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research