iPierian snags $3.7M grant from NIH for cell reprogramming

iPierian, a South San Francisco-based company that’s researching the use of cellular reprogramming for drug discovery applications, has been selected by the National Institutes of Health for a $3.7 million grant to continue work on these topics in tandem with Johns Hopkins University.

The two-year “Great Opportunities” grant is actually part of the federal stimulus package to help fuel neurological and stroke-related research. Its work could eventually be used to treat ALS, Parkinson’s and spinal muscular atrophy.

The company is financed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, MPM Capital, FinTech Global Capital and Highland Capital Partners. It merged with iZumi Bio in July, generating another $11.5 million in funding.

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