UCI dean to oversee stem cell research

SUSAN BRYANT

The dean of the School of Biological Sciences has been appointed to

an oversight commission that that will govern the stem cell research

institute approved by voters earlier this month.

The passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research

and Cures Initiative, authorized $3 billion worth of bonds to fund

stem cell research in the state.

Biological sciences dean Susan Bryant, one of 29 members appointed

to the Independent Citizens Oversight Commission, will serve an

eight-year term. Bryant was appointed Wednesday by UCI Chancellor

Ralph Cicerone.

“I was thrilled,� said Bryant, who has mainly worked with

salamander limb regeneration.

“I am a developmental biologist. I’ve worked on regeneration my

whole life.�

As a member of the commission, Bryant will help establish policies

for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the group

that will decide which research proposals deserve funding.

One of the first priorities of the institute will be to establish

facilities that don’t have equipment from the National Institutes of

Health, since that equipment can be used only on the limited stem

cell lines President George Bush authorized, Bryant said.

The initiative could also have the inspirational effect of

enticing more students into the field of stem cell research, Bryant

said.

“When the environment for doing a particular type of research is

not friendly, it discourages students from going into that area,�

Bryant said.

The choice of Bryant for the commission is an excellent one, said

Oswald Steward, director of the Reeve-Irvine Research Center on

campus, which is focused on treating injury and diseases of the

spinal cord.

“She has been working and thinking about this and is so excited

about it and is really working with everyone in a creative and

interactive way,� Steward said.

“Whatever gets put together from UCI will certainly have the stamp

of her hard work.�

Stem cells for research come from embryos created through in-vitro

fertilization that are not implanted.

They have the potential to cure spinal cord injuries and diseases

like Parkinson’s.

The stem cells that aren’t used are frozen and eventually

destroyed, Steward said.

There are 400,000 frozen embryos around the country that are not

being used, he added.

Since the Reeve-Irvine Research Center uses stem cells, Oswald is

also excited about the opportunity to create new stem cell lines.

“It’s going to be incredible, that’s all one can say -- to be able

to step away from the restrictions that are there now, as far as the

lines that are available, and begin to explore other lines,� Steward

said.

The university is putting together a proposal to get funds for a

new stem cell research facility, Steward added.