A ballot initiative this November could make California the
Golden State for stem cell research.
The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative would
earmark $3 billion over 10 years for funding California
universities and research institutes in hopes of developing
breakthroughs and cures with the use of stem cells.
The average of $295 million a year would be the most given to
stem cell research by any state.
Nearly double the 1 million signatures needed to put the
initiative on the ballot were collected by Californians for Stem
Cell Research and Cures, practically guaranteeing the initiative
placement on the ballot. The signatures are awaiting verification
by the California Secretary of State’s office.
Research programs at the University of California would see a
windfall of new funding for stem cell research if the initiative is
approved.
“The UC would tremendously benefit by the new funding for
stem cell research. The university itself would not take a stand,
but several of the most prominent scientists support the
initiative,” said Jennifer O’Brien, a spokeswoman for
UC San Francisco, a leading university in stem cell research.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to fund some life-saving
research,” said Roger Salazar, a spokesman for Californians
for Stem Cell Research and Cures.
The state’s current budget woes have caused some to worry
about the spending increase, but Californians for Stem Cell
Research and Cures expects the measure to pay for itself with
patents and royalties, Salazar said.
“There exists a funding gap between a lot of different
types of stem cell research. … (The initiative) would close that
funding gap in a responsible way,” he said.
Researchers are interested in stem cells because they have
characteristics not found in other types of cells. Most important
to researchers is that under certain experimental conditions stem
cells can become cells with special functions, such as heart cells
or pancreas cells.
Studies done thus far show that stem cells show potential for
curing diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Harley Kornblum, a UCLA associate professor of molecular and
medical pharmacology who has worked with stem cells, said current
stem cell lines are not very accessible because of bureaucracy and
lack of funding, and that an increase in money from the initiative
could help the science progress.
But he added that just throwing money at stem cell research
wouldn’t work without skilled scientists.
“The science has to be of high quality. That’s more
important than just money,” he said.
While few question the potential benefits of cures found through
stem cell research, there has been a debate over the ethics of stem
cells.
Controversy over stem cells arises because the cells are
harvested from the inner mass of week-old embryos. While there are
also stem cells taken from adults, researchers do not find these as
useful in many cases.
Many anti-abortion organizations have opposed stem cell research
because of the destruction of the embryos when the stem cells are
extracted.
President Bush has voiced some opposition to stem cell research
using embryos and has set guidelines for federal funding.
Recently, more than 200 members of Congress signed a letter to
Bush urging him to remove some of the restrictions imposed by his
August 2001 executive order which limited federal funding for stem
cell research.
The lack of federal support for stem cell research has caused
some to worry that the United States could fall behind in the
field.
Many countries, such as South Korea, have lifted restrictions on
stem cell research and are more active in their support.
A small number of other states, including New Jersey, have also
taken steps to start funding stem cell research in order to spur
their state economies.
Salazar said passing the initiative would create millions of
dollars in tax revenues for California with the building of new
facilities and hiring of employees.