U-M Launches Stem Cell Center
DOUG GUTHRIE/The Detroit News
The University of Michigan is creating a new stem cell research center in Ann Arbor around one of the controversial science's rising stars.
With $10.5 million in university funding announced Monday, center Director Sean Morrison will recruit seven more researchers over the next four years to join him in work he started at U-M in 1999. Based at U-M's 2-year-old Life Sciences Institute, the program will combine the resources of the university's medical school and Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute as well as aspects of engineering and other programs.
The move also represents a high-profile effort to retain key faculty. It comes on the heels of the university setting aside $4.5 million this summer from a 12.3 percent tuition increase specifically to stem a tide of faculty defections to universities that have offered more money for staff, research and pay. Years of reductions in state funding have been blamed for the losses, said Paul Courant, who returned to teaching last month after serving as U-M's provost and vice president of academic affairs."There is no doubt keeping someone of (Morrison's) caliber is important to the University of Michigan," Courant said. "I think this one happens to be very visible, but it is something we work to achieve all the time. Our president and vice president for medical affairs were involved in this one in ways that weren't the norm."
A native of Nova Scotia, Morrison studied at Stanford University and California Technological University. "I didn't come to Michigan because of the climate," Morrison said. "I'm here because they have great laboratory space, great core facilities and great faculty support and great support from (U-M) President Mary Sue Coleman. I can't think of another university in the country that combines this."
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It's too bad this news didn't come out of Michigan State University, my alma matter.
Oh, well - in a perfect world...