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The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission is using a new report to bolster its appeal for at least level funding in next year's budget.

The study, conducted by Sage Policy Group of Baltimore, shows that the program, which grants millions in awards each year, mostly to university researchers, supports 514 jobs, both direct and indirect, in the state, with an average salary of $64,000. The program facilitates $71.3 million in business sales in the state, and the stem cell industry generates $2.7 million in state and local taxes annually, the study says.

The Maryland Technology Development Corp., which administers the stem cell fund program, commissioned the study.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is seeking $12.4 million for the stem cell fund in fiscal 2011, the same amount appropriated for the current fiscal year. That's a significant decrease from just two years ago, when some $22 million was appropriated for research grants. Last year, the program received $18 million. In June 2008, before the recession took a serious bite out of the state's finances, O'Malley proposed spending $20 million a year under his Bio 2020 Initiative.

Lawmakers are currently considering stem cell research funding in the fiscal 2011 budget. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee's Health, Education and Human Resource Subcommittee, chaired by Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Dist. 12) of Columbia, had scheduled a hearing for Monday afternoon. Among those scheduled to testify were John M. Wasilisin, acting president and executive director of Tedco, and Dan Gincel, director of the stem cell research fund, both of whom also testified before a House subcommittee on Thursday to argue against any cuts. Neither Gincel nor Kasemeyer immediately returned phone calls seeking comment on Monday.

"The findings of this economic development analysis validate, on paper, what supporters of stem cell research in our state have been saying for years — that Maryland's investment in stem cell research is not only critical to advancing science, but to moving our state's economy forward," O'Malley said in a statement. "Without the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, more than 500 Marylanders would be without a job and millions of direct and indirect dollars in state revenue would be lost. In this uncertain economy, the continued investment in stem cell research remains sound and valuable."

The study was based on data from the stem cell fund's first two years, fiscal '07 and '08. In those two years, the program awarded 82 projects totaling $38 million to Maryland stem cell researchers.

All told, the program has awarded more than $56 million to fund 140 research grants. The lion's share of the grants has gone to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, with most of the rest going to University of Maryland scientists. Only a few have gone to private-sector researchers.

"The impressive results of this study support the work of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission and the goals of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund," Wasilisin said in the statement. "The fund has reached great milestones since its inception in 2006, including our program's stellar national reputation which attracts the best and brightest in the field to the State of Maryland. With the support of the Governor and the legislature, our greatest achievements are still to come and we look forward to the work that lies ahead."

The study, "Economic Benefits of Maryland's Stem Cell Program Already Apparent," is available at www.mscrf.org/_media/client/pdf/Sage_stem_cell_program_impacts_Final.pdf.