Scientific and Medical Training and Fellowship Programs

(a) The institute shall establish training and fellowship programs. The goal of the training and fellowship programs shall be to:

(1) Ensure that California has the workforce necessary to move new discoveries from the research stage to the clinic.

(2) Accelerate the accessibility of treatments and cures, and make treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research available to California patients.

(3) Prepare California undergraduates and master’s students for careers in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and in the development and delivery of treatments and cures.

(4) Support graduate students, postdoctoral students, and medical students, including, but not limited to, interns, residents, and graduate fellows who work in the fields of stem cell and other vital research opportunities and in the development and delivery of treatments and cures, with fellowships.

(b) (1) (A) The program shall provide awards to California Community Colleges and California State University campuses to establish training programs to prepare undergraduates and provide fellowships for master’s graduate students for advanced degrees and technical careers in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and the development and delivery of treatments and cures, including hands-on training and education in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and in the development and delivery of treatments and cures. Direct patient engagement and outreach activities that engage California’s diverse communities to ensure that all communities are aware of, and have access to, institute-funded treatments and cures shall be a priority outcome of this program. The institute shall prioritize the funding of applications from institutions that enhance the geographic distribution of training across the state and socio-economic diversity and applications that offer matching funds or verified in-kind support.

(B) The institute may establish coinvestment, sponsored apprenticeships as part of the training program in order to leverage the institute’s funding and create employment opportunities for students in technical positions that advance the fields of stem cell and other vital research opportunities and the development and delivery of treatments and cures.

(2) (A) The fellowship program shall provide awards to academic and nonprofit research institutions in California to administer fellowship awards to graduate and postdoctoral students and medical school students, including, but not limited to, interns, residents, and graduate fellows, engaged in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and the development and delivery of treatments and cures. Fellowship awards may be freestanding or supplemental of other sources of funding.

(B) The institute may establish a program to empower fellows to work in Alpha Stem Cell Clinics and Community Care Centers of Excellence as part of their participation in the fellowship program.

(c) Training and fellowship program awards shall be made pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 125290.10) of Chapter 3 of Part 5 of Division 106.

(Added November 3, 2020, by initiative Proposition 14, Sec. 5. Effective on December 16, 2020.)