Press Releases
Statement on Stem Cell Legislation
by President Richard L. McCormick, Rutgers,
The State University of New Jersey
Interim President Bruce C. Vladeck,
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
| Contact: Anna Farneski Director of Communications University of Medicine of Dentistry of New Jersey 973-972-5000 farnesam@umdnj.edu |
Contact: Joseph Blumberg Manager of Science Communications Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 732-932-7084 ext. 652 blumberg@ur.rutgers.edu |
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Dec. 20, 2006—In allocating $270 million in state monies for stem cell research, Governor Jon Corzine and the New Jersey Legislature have taken a bold step in the pursuit of life-saving medical advances. We applaud their far-sighted efforts to put New Jersey at the forefront of this promising field.
New Jersey has already made significant progress in stem cell research. In 2004, the state established the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey as a partnership among Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; and the State of New Jersey. That institute is now poised to become a hub of collaborative research, attracting renowned scientists, talented students, and substantial grant support.
The legislation signed today is vital to realizing that potential. It will fund state-of-the-art facilities in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden that can turn new knowledge into effective cures and pioneer innovative technologies essential to economic growth.
Through the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, UMDNJ, and our partners in higher education, industry, and government are positioned to move this effort forward. We thank Governor Corzine, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Senate President Richard Codey, Assemblyman Neil Cohen, and the members of the Legislature for their leadership on this vital issue.