TheCalifornia Institute for Regenerative Medicine(CIRM; Emeryville) reported that its CIRM Training Program has been approved and will fund clinical fellows, pre-doctoral students and post-doctoral students in California’s universities, non-profit academic and research institutions in stem cell research.

The CIRM said it aims to commit about $45 million over the next three years to its training program, with awards to up to 18 institutions and training for up to 200 CIRM scholars “at any given time.”

“We are excited to issue our first call for grant applications,” said interim president Zach Hall. “The initial emphasis on training is appropriate since the large increase in stem cell research that will occur under Proposition 71 will require a major expansion in the number of highly trained stem cell researchers in California.”

Three types of training programs will operate on a graduated scale to accommodate small and large institutions across the state:

– A comprehensive training program will educate at the pre-doctoral, post-doctoral and clinical levels. A Type I institutional grant will support up to 16 CIRM scholars and operate on a total budget of up to $1.25 million per year.

– An intermediate training program will offer training at two of the three levels of education, as cited above. Type II grants may support up to 10 CIRM scholars at a given institution with a total budget of $800,000.

– A specialized training program will fund up to six CIRM scholars with a total budget of $500,000.

Each institution is expected to offer a single, integrated program appropriate for the educational level of its trainees and the expertise of its faculty. All programs will be required to offer at least one course in stem cell biology and disease and a course in the social, legal and ethical implications of stem cell research.

Israeli firm gets Nasdaq extension

Healthcare Technologies (Petach-Tikva, Israel) reported that it has received notice from the Nasdaq market that the company provided a definitive plan evidencing its ability to achieve and sustain compliance with the exchange’s rules, and as such, has granted an extension until June 1 to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum stockholders’ equity requirement of $2.5 million.

The major term of the extension is that on or before June 1, the company must complete the previously announced sale of the Procognia investment. The company has scheduled a special meeting of its shareholders for May 29 in order to vote upon the sale.

Healthcare Technologies, through its Savyon Diagnostics, Gamidor Diagnostics and Danyel Biotech subsidiaries, specializes in manufacturing clinical diagnostic kits and providing services and tools for diagnostic and biotech research in laboratory and point-of-care sites worldwide.