LOS ANGELES (Map, News) - No longer hampered by legal challenges, California's stem cell agency announced $271 million in grants Wednesday to build new research laboratories.

A dozen universities and research centers will receive funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a $3 billion stem cell research agency that Californians approved through Proposition 71 in 2004.

The largest grant to a single campus will go to Stanford University for $43.6 million.

Nearly $137 million in funding will be divided between eight University of California campuses, with UC San Francisco drawing the largest share at $34.9 million.

The San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine will get $43 million, and the Buck Institute for Age Research will get $20.5 million.

CIRM President Dr. Alan Trounsoun said the new facilities will be geared towards speeding "the pace of research toward clinical application."

Nearly a year ago, the California Supreme Court allowed for the creation of the grant-issuing state agency, turning back a legal challenge by abortion foes and other critics of stem cell research. Research began despite the legal challenge after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized a $150 million loan and philanthropic organizations loaned another $45 million to fund research.

In a statement Wednesday, Schwarzenegger praised California for investing three times more in embryonic stem cell research than the National Institutes of Health.

"This will go a long way toward medical research that could save lives and improve them for people with chronic diseases," said Schwarzenegger. "But also, this kind of public-private investment in a growing jobs sector is exactly the kind of good news our economy needs right now."

Recipient institutions could not qualify for the grants without providing a minimum of 20 percent in matching funds. The 12 institutions have committed an additional $560 million.

---