BURLINGAME (KCBS) The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine decided on Thursday to approve $150 million in grants for fighting deadly diseases.

According to the institute, eight grants were issued to researchers throughout the state. Three of the grants went to teams at UC Davis, while teams at Stanford University received two. Newark-based StemCells Inc. also received a grant. The remaining grants went to teams at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Awards from the institute ranged from $14.1 million to $20 million.

The grants will go towards researching therapies for several diseases and disorders, including Huntingtons disease, osteoporosis, spinal cord injury and ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease.

KCBS Anna Duckworth Reports:

State Stem Cell Agency To Vote On Granting Research Funding At California Universities

Researchers, patients and parents addressed the 29-member governing board of the states stem cell agency before Thursdays vote at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Burlingame, voicing support for the grants.

UC Davis Stem Cell Program Director Dr. Jan Nolta said the money would allow them to start clinical trials for Huntingtons disease, which causes neurons in the brain to die slowly over the course of about 10 years.

At times the testimony was emotional with researchers speaking about patients that would most likely loose their ability to walk due to their disease.

Others spoke hopefully about the developing therapies that would hopefully keep the brain healthy.

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California Stem Cell Agency Approves $150M In Grants To Fight Diseases