Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Awards Over $18 Million for Regenerative Medicine Development
This latest funding round will hopefully empower more research, trials, and commercialization.
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) has announced more than $18 million in funding to support stem cell and regenerative medicine research throughout the state.
The grants will aid 52 researchers working on nearly 50 different medical conditions, including sickle cell anemia, diabetes, cancers, chronic pain, as well as heart, bone, blood, digestive, and neurological diseases.
Recipients of this year’s funding include Maryland-based companies such as Seraxis Inc., Britecyte Inc., SereNeuro Therapeutics Inc., and Diagnostic Biochips, Inc. Academic awardees include researchers from Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland Baltimore, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences/Henry Jackson Foundation.
This year also marks the first grant awarded to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, expanding the state’s involvement in regenerative medicine research.
Since its establishment under the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006, the MSCRF reports investing over $200 million in more than 650 projects, generating an estimated $525 million in economic activity and creating over 2,000 jobs statewide.
“We recognize the life-saving potential of the research supported by our grant awardees. Sustained MSCRF funding is essential to advancing these efforts, particularly in today’s challenging funding landscape,” emphasized Rachel Brewster, Ph.D., chair of the Commission. “We remain committed to helping innovative scientists and companies move cutting-edge stem cell research from the lab to patient care.”
The Commission plans to release RFAs soon for the first round of fiscal year 2026 funding, with applications due in July 2025.
