Posted at: 06/22/2012 3:10 PM | Updated at: 06/22/2012 5:29 PM By: WNYT Staff

TROY - Stem cells have been heralded as the frontier from which great medical treatments will come. Whether or not that materializes, New York wants to be in on the action.

So Friday, ground was broken on the Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research. Located on the RPI campus, the state is providing a grant of almost $2.5 million over four years to get it built.

And through it's funding, the state is very forward looking and it is foster a strong stem cell research community here in New York State, said Shirley Ann Jackson, president of RPI.

RPI has already started working in this area, partnering with Albany Medical College and the University at Albany.

This expands the scope of that work, with the hopes of finding new medicines and cures for a variety of illness and traumatic injuries.

Read more from the original source:
RPI breaks ground on Rensselaer Center for Stem Cell Research