California Stem Cell Funding Delayed by Lawsuits
Over one year after Californians passed Proposition 71, approving $3 billion worth of government funding for stem-cell studies, 16 research institutions and universities, including UC Davis, have not received the resources to commence their programs.
A group of opposing organizations, including the People’s Advocate, the National Tax Limitation Foundation and Californians for Public Accountability and Ethical Oversight, filed lawsuits against state officials in April, effectively halting sales of bonds that would have funded the programs.
The Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine — organizations created by Proposition 71 to review grant applications and allocate state resources for stem-cell study — spoke in defense of the proposition.
They added that employees must adhere to the Administrative Procedure Act, the Public Records Act and California’s conflict of interest laws.
In September, the ICOC and CIRM rewarded UC Davis with a $2:7 million grant to create a stem-cell training program. Despite the delay in receiving the funds, UC Davis officials are still proceeding as planned, according to Dr Frederick Meyers, training director for the UC Davis stem-cell program.
“We’re so busy doing major recruiting that this doesn’t set us back too far,” he said. “We’re basically planning right now.”
Meyers said that he was optimistic about the court ruling next week, hoping that funds will be available shortly after a decision is made.
The CIRM is trying to raise $50 million to cover the costs of the training programs at institutions across the state until the end of the court battle, according to a CIRM spokesperson in a press release.
“I understand people’s concern,” Meyers said. “This is not something to be taken lightly, either from the ethical aspect or the scientific aspect of stem-cell research.”
If the court ruling confirms Proposition 71 as law, Meyers said he hopes the initial $2.7 million grant will be the first of many future grants toward the university’s stem-cell research.
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