The race is on to make New Jersey the leader in developing scientific breakthroughs. With Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ) signing a bill into law Wednesday, Rutgers University hopes to play a dominant role in stem cell research.

Professor Martin Grumet says he hopes he?s on the cutting edge of finding cures for spinal cord injuries. He says collaborations have been forming for a while and now Rutgers will be a home to accelerate progress. The law provides $270 million for research. The Stem Cell Institute will be built at the university with $150 million of that money.

Officials from the Christopher Reeve Foundation, which is located in Summit, say the new law encourages them as well. The foundation believes New Jersey is now an example to the nation that the scientific potential of stem cell research and regenerative medicine are important avenues to explore.

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