Stanford Report, July 13, 2005

New name for stem cell institute reflects broadened scope

BY MATTHEW EARLY WRIGHT

Stanford's Institute for Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine has a new name. In fact, it has two new names. To clarify the identity of these two distinct yet overlapping areas of research, the institute has split into two entities: The Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In announcing the new titles, Philip A. Pizzo, dean of the School of Medicine, explained that the stem cell institute would still explore the connection between cancer biology and stem cells, which share the common characteristic of self-renewal. But since the creation of the institute in December 2002, a pair of important events has drawn the two areas administratively farther apart, he said.

First, the passage of Proposition 71 in November 2004 led the state to establish the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which will allocate $3 billion in state funds for stem cell research over the next 10 years. The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine will give Stanford a dedicated stem cell organization through which to apply for the state funds. Stem cells have the potential to develop into any cell type, leading many researchers to believe these versatile cells could regenerate damaged or diseased tissues in the body.

Second, the School of Medicine plans to apply in February to the National Cancer Institute for official designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, raising Stanford's already high stature in cancer treatment and research as well as potentially opening the door to more federal research money. Again, because the NCI exclusively funds cancer research, it will strengthen the medical school's application to have a distinct title for Stanford's cancer effort: the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center. The name should also help underscore the center's mandate to conduct a broad range of cancer research beyond areas of overlap with stem cells.

Organizational details of the two newly named divisions are as follows:

At the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Irving Weissman, MD, will serve as director, and Michael Clarke, MD, recently recruited from the University of Michigan, as associate director. The institute's Program in Regenerative Medicine includes initiatives in bioethics (led by David Magnus, PhD), education (led by Margaret Fuller, PhD), facility planning (led by Michael Longaker, MD), research (led by Roeland Nusse, PhD) and stem cell policy (led by Julie Baker, PhD). Longaker will serve as the program director.

At the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Weissman will serve as principal investigator and Beverly Mitchell, MD, recently recruited from the University of North Carolina, as deputy director and co-principal investigator. Karl Blume, MD, will be senior program advisor. Associate directors include Steven Leibel, MD (clinical research), Michael Cleary, MD (basic research), Ronald Levy, MD (translational science), Dee West, PhD (population research), Yanru Chen Tsai, PhD (shared resources) and Joanne Murphy (administration).

"There is little doubt that there are—and should be—scientific, educational and patient-care overlaps between these disciplines," Pizzo said. "However, making these efforts discrete will help us to communicate more effectively with those communities who are less familiar with our initiatives and unique research agendas."