States, scientists seek alternate funding for stem cell research

Despite criticism over federal policy, NIH says, "There's no limit to the amount of money we're willing to spend."

By Andis Robeznieks, AMNews staff. March 15, 2004.

Scientists, activists and politicians are working to get around President Bush's policy that restricts federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research to experiments on stem cell lines created before Aug. 9, 2001.

Individual states and academic institutions are deciding to forfeit federal funding to conduct research on stem cell lines that are not listed on the National Institutes of Health official registry, and they are hoping to replace those federal dollars

The biggest of these efforts is the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, an effort seeking voter approval of a plan to borrow $3 billion to annually fund $295 million worth of stem cell research in the state for 10 years.

Last year, California became the first state to specifically allow embryonic stem cell research, and New Jersey became the second this year. But neither state's Legislature allocated funding for conducting such research.

Money will be on the way if California voters OK the $3 billion referendum and the New Jersey Legislature supports Gov. James McGreevey's plan to combine $6.5 million in state money with private funds of $3.5 million to create the New Jersey Institute [...]