The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) announced this week the winners of the Basic Biology Awards, four of whom are scientists at the School of Medicine. Each of the Stanford scientists will receive $1.42 million to pursue varied research topics.

Award recipient Michael Clarke, the Karel H. and Avice N. Beekhuis professor in cancer biology, will research the function of a gene involved with the self-renewal of stem cells in cancer and Down syndrome.

Joanna Wysocka, assistant professor of chemical and systems biology and developmental biology, plans to study enhancers and stem cell differentiation.

Renee Reijo Pera, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, hopes to examine the relationship between time-lapse studies and single-cell molecular analysis. Pera, who directs the Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Education, wants to further understanding of human embryo development.

Fellow award winner Joseph Wu, associate professor of medicine and of radiology, will use induced pluripotent stem cells to examine familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Stanford has received approximately $192 million from CIRM thus far.

–An Le Nguyen