California funds UCI stem cell sorting, tracking research

Two UC Irvine scientists will receive grants totaling nearly $1.6 million to develop and advance stem cell sorting and tracking devices aimed at improving future therapies for people with brain and spinal cord damage, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and other disorders. The grants were awarded Wednesday, Dec. 10, from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to Lisa Flanagan (pictured) and Orhan Nalcioglu; they are intended to fund tools and technologies that overcome stem cell research roadblocks. CIRM’s governing board awarded 23 grants worth $19 million to 18 institutions statewide. These awards bring total CIRM funding for UCI to $52.8 million, ranking it fourth statewide among recipient institutions.