A grant of $250 million was awarded to a group of researchers for stem cell research and other projects which could lead to treatments for brain cancer, macular degeneration, AIDS and sickle cell anemia.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state’s stem cell research agency, granted funding to a total of 14 teams which included researchers from the University of Southern California, the City of Hope, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, and UCLA.

Three scientists were awarded a total of $50 million with the Broad Stem Cell Research Center at ULCA. The approval process involved proof by the teams that they would be ready to file intent to begin clinical trials with the FDA.

A professor of microbiology, Kohn, also received more than $9 million to develop blood stem cells that could eventually be used to cure sickle cell anemia.

Kohn said, "It can be cured with a bone marrow transplant, but the problem is many times the body can reject the marrow donated by another person, what we're trying to do is find a way to use the patient's own marrow."

He added that his team will work using genetically corrected stem cells to block the sickling of the red blood cells.

Apart from California, Canada and Britain are contributing $43 million since some part of the research will be done in these countries.