Wishing You a Prosperous New Year 2024!



As we step into the New Year, we at the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) want to extend our warmest wishes to you for a prosperous and fulfilling 2024. This is a time for new beginnings, renewed commitments, and reflection on our transformative journey in 2023.

Last year was a period of remarkable progress for MSCRF, characterized by a substantial funding increase, the launch of new strategic initiatives, and the remarkable achievements of our awardees.

The grant awards of nearly $17M in 2023 to support 50 innovative stem cell projects, covering about 40 disease indications, underscored our unwavering dedication to advancing stem cell research and innovation. The 12% rise in application numbers from 2022 highlighted the growing demand for MSCRF's support. With over half of the 2023 awardees being first-time recipients of our funding, and 30% being women, this showcased the expanding and diversifying MSCRF community. Since its inception, MSCRF's role in stem cell research has been significant, with nearly $200 million allocated to approximately 600 projects across almost 40 public and private entities.

Our new strategic focus on biomanufacturing has been pivotal. With nearly $3 million in funding in 2023, we've significantly boosted local companies in establishing state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and refining their manufacturing processes in Maryland. This initiative goes beyond just reducing risks in regenerative medicine; it's a vital step in growing Maryland's manufacturing workforce and strengthening biomanufacturing capabilities within the state.

Our funded research led to numerous publications, additional grants, new intellectual property, and the launch of several postdoctoral research careers. Currently, an impressive 75% of our portfolio companies continue to thrive, evidenced by successful capital raises or significant growth in revenues. Furthermore, several of our clinical awardees are making significant progress by initiating clinical trials, and others are on track to launch human clinical studies in 2024 and 2025. This progress brings hope for patients around the world as these developments bring us closer to transformative healthcare solutions.

These milestones are just a glimpse of MSCRF's impactful work in 2023.  We invite you to delve deeper into our journey and our awardee's accomplishments in the 2023 Annual Report.

As we embrace 2024, we remain dedicated to our mission of supporting innovative stem cell research and fostering a thriving environment for science and innovation. RFAs for all the seven programs for the 2024 Funding Cycle are currently open. The deadline for grant application submission is January 22, 2024. Please feel free to reach us with any queries at mscrfinfo@tedcomd.com.

We look forward to supporting your research and enhancing the stem cell ecosystem in Maryland.

Here's to a year of hope, success, and groundbreaking advancements!

With best wishes,