912 fort will identify ESTs in the cell lines representing both known and unknown genes. All sequences will be deposited into readily accessible public databases, and the cDNA clones will be accessible through the IMAGE (Integrated Molecular Analysis of Genomes and their Expression) Consortium. To help established investigators begin experiments with human embryonic stem cells, NIH announced the availability of administrative supplements to existing NIH grants. These supplements are supporting collections of preliminary data that will lead to investigator-initiated research grant applications whose major focus is research with human embryonic stem cells. To date, 44 supplements have been awarded, representing a total commitment of about $4,000,000. In addition, NIH is currently supporting 14 investigator-initiated grant awards, which represent a total commitment of $14,700,000, and many additional applications will be considered for funding in 2003. The NIH institutes issued nine solicitations for research grants involving stem cell research in 2002 (see table, right). In addition to extramural efforts, six NIH intramural laboratories are currently engaged in research using human embryonic stem cell lines. These NIH intramural laboratories are exploring a variety of basic research questions. Their work includes efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms that determine differentiation of human ES cells into specific cell fates, as well as development of protocols to perform directed differentiation. At the present time, there is a limited pool of scientists with the hands-on experience needed to reliably perform experiments with approved human embryonic stem cells. Therefore, NIH issued a program announcement soliciting applications for short-term courses in human embryonic stem cell culture techniques (4). Five applications were received in October 2002, underwent peer review, and awards are currently pending. In addition, to assist midcareer investigators in their efforts to initiate research studies, NIH issued the program announcement “Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research”(5). These grants will provide salary support, as well as some support for other research costs, to allow scientists to join an established research group working with approved human embryonic stem cells for 6 to 24 months. The research community also articulated the need for recruitment of basic biologists with little or no prior human embryonic stem cell experience to join multidisciplinary, multi-investigator teams of researchers. They will explore the growth and maintenance, biochemical and molecular properties, and other unique properties of human embryonic stem cells and will support pilot projects that capitalize on human embryonic stem cells as a model system for understanding fundamental research problems. In response to a June 2002 workshop sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (6), a request for applications to support exploratory center grants has been issued (7). These awards are intended to lead to research centers that will address this need, so clearly articulated by the research community. In August 2002, the NIH Stem Cell Task Force (8) was established to oversee and coordinate the activities across the NIH institutes and centers that involve human embryonic stem cells, as well as all other types of stem cells. The task force will continue to monitor the state of this rapidly evolving science by identifying barriers to research progress and addressing the needs of the research community. This group of experienced NIH scientists will receive advice from the research community at a series of working groups …