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California Stem Cell Trial Coverage

For coverage of the currently underway California stem cell trial,
visit the California Stem Cell Report written by David Jensen.
He's been attending the trial and posting several times daily on the proceedings.

This trial could determine whether there is a future for the California Stem Cell Agency.

Read the website here:  California Stem Cell Report.

CIRM Releases "Interim IP Policy for Non-Profit Organizations" Report

The Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee has released a working draft of the CIRM (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine) Intellectual Property Policy for Non-Profit Organizations report.

This is the report that details (among other things) how and if California will share in the revenue generated by its' $3 billion investment.

Read the full draft here.

California Institute For Regenerative Medicine website.

Thanks to the California Stem Cell Report for the heads up.

Technorati Tags: CIRM, stem cell, Alzheimer's, Dementia, California

Dr. Zach W. Hall, President Of CIRM, Interview

Just saw this at the great California Stem Cell Report by David Jensen:

"Set your Internet radio Wednesday Jan. 4 to Science and Society at 1 p.m. PST to catch the president of the California stem cell agency discussing the latest doings at the institute."

Check it out and if you aren't reading the California Stem Cell Report regularly, you should be.

*Update 01/05/2005:*

A podcast of the program is now available in case you missed it.

Illinois Invests In Stem Cell Research

Illinois has now become the fourth state to use public money ($10 million) towards stem cell research.

Illinois follows California ($3 billion over 10 years), Connecticut ($100 million over 10 years) and New Jersey ($150 million for a stem cell research lab with a total overall proposed investment of $380 million).

Infighting At The California Stem Cell Agency

It looks like nothing regarding the California stem cell agency, it's research, money or leadership is going to go smoothly.

Here's the latest from David Jensen's California Stem Cell Report:

Rebel Stem Cell Directors Not Happy with Klein.

I'm ready for some good news.  I hope everyone involved can pull it all together and produce some beneficial results.  Results that are accessible and affordable to the people that need them.

California Stem Cell Agency Updates: SCA13 and Where'd The Money Go?

There have been a couple of important developments regarding California's stem cell agency recently that I want to share with you:

No Nasty Fall Election on Stem Cell Agency
SCA13, which would have increased disclosure and oversight of the California stem cell agency, has evolved into just a letter to the agency instead of a ballot measure. At least for now.

Murky Money Matters, Disgruntled Directors
This is about the amount of money flowing out of the stem cell agency when even the directors of the agency don't know where the money's going.

I am providing links to both of these stories that were written at the excellent California Stem Cell Report blog.  The blog is written by David Jensen.  Mr. Jensen has put in many years as a political reporter and editor and is able to write and explain this information in a way that I never could.  I recommend reading it regularly.

Medicare: Past, Present And Future

This past May 26th, Terry Gross had a program about Medicare on her program "Fresh Air."  The audio program covers the beginning of the Medicare program, the upcoming prescription drug program changes and problems facing the Medicare program.

Her guest on this program is Political scientist Jonathan Oberlander.

The NPR website with a link to listen to this program can be found here:

Medicare's Political Life Expectancy

Stem Cell Bills H.R. 810 and H.R. 2520

The House of Representatives passed two stem cell bills yesterday.  The first, H.R 810, passed by a vote of 238 to 194.  Now it's off to the Senate with leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties pushing for a vote without delay.

The summary of H.R. 810 (from http://thomas.loc.gov) is as follows:

"Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo. Limits such research to stem cells that meet the following ethical requirements: (1) the stem cells were derived from human embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics for the purpose of fertility treatment and were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment; (2) the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded; and (3) such individuals donate the embryos with written informed consent and receive no financial or other inducements."

The second bill, H.R. 2520, passed by a whopping bipartisan 431-1.  H.R. 2520 is "To provide for the collection and maintenance of human cord blood stem cells for the treatment of patients and research, and to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program."

The full summary can be found here.

I'm glad to see that when the issue at hand is important enough, partisan politics can be shed and our leaders can stand up for what they truly believe in.  This isn't over yet though since President Bush has stated that he will veto bill H.R. 810.

To be continued...

Link:

Senators push for stem-cell bill - MarketWatch

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Due to a lawsuit, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is having trouble borrowing the money voters approved with California's proposition 71 stem cell initiative.

No one wants to buy bonds that the lawsuit may make worthless.  The state is considering going with shorter term bonds with a higher interest rate but that will increase the overall costs.

This looks like it will be playing out for awhile.  I don't want to see the costs for this skyrocket but the costs of not going forward with the research could be much higher.  Let's hope they find a way to work this out.

Links:

Lawsuit Hampers Calif. Stem Cell Funding - Washingtonpost.com
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Race To Become California's New Stem Cell Headquarters

San Francisco is the current front runner in the bid to become the host city for California's new stem cell headquarters.

They have won the recommendation of the subcommittee of the board overseeing the new California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.  But the recommendation is just that, a recommendation.  The full board can now go along with the recommendation or it can pick one of the other 3 remaining cities: Sacramento, San Diego or Emeryville.

San Francisco's pitch included the use of the Moscone Center and $900,000 worth of hotel rooms for free.

The full board is expected to make its final decision this friday (May 6th).

Links:

San Francisco Examiner

Business Wire