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San Francisco Getting Stem Cell Agency HQ

Posted by timothy on from the root-cells-are-in-the-basement dept.

karvind writes "San Francisco was chosen Friday as the headquarters for California's new stem cell agency, beating out San Diego, Sacramento and Emeryville. The stem cell institute was created in November after voters overwhelmingly approved a measure allowing the state to borrow $3 billion to fund human embryonic stem cell research. According to Yahoo, the plans call for a 17,000-square-foot office with a maximum of 50 employees who will help dole out nearly $300 million in research grants annually over 10 years."

3 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. It's worse than that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    There's a ban on federal funding for stem cell research.

    It's worse than that. There's a ban on stem cell research if you've received federal funding. If you have in the past received federal money, if any of that federal money went to facilities, etc, you can't do stem cell research with anything that money's touched. Not facilities, buildings, desk chairs, whatever.

    So, the government offers these groups money. They get pretty much every important research institution infected with having received this money. Then suddenly they bait and switch and announce they're banning anyone who's received this money from doing vital medical research because it offends their leaders' religious sensibilities. Then they get to shrug, do a "who me", and have their lackeys on slashdot claim they didn't ban anything. Neat trick.

  2. Re:"Ban" --- Pleeeeze... Get it Right just once. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    The ban is on stem cell research derived from human embryos. And to be much more specific it is a federal ban on *NEW* embryos.

    Here is an actual snippet from the prez:

    "As a result of private research, more than 60 genetically diverse stem cell lines already exist" I have concluded that we should allow federal funds to be used for research on these existing stem cell lines " where the life and death decision has already been made", This allows us to explore the promise and potential of stem cell research" without crossing a fundamental moral line by providing taxpayer funding that would sanction or encourage further destruction of human embryos that have at least the potential for life."
    -- George W. Bush

    The Real Thing

    And yes, that means that FEDERAL FUNDING *IS* ALLOWED for embrionic stem cells.

    There is *NO* limitation on other types of stem cells.

    And we already have created products from adult hair, skin, bone and blood stem cells. Most medical researchers insist that embrionic stem cells have less potential than other types of stem cells.

    California has literally jumped the shark. Any facility that would like to touch that money *MUST* do embrionic stem cell research exclusivily.

    This is equilivent to Wyoming deciding that ARM processors may save lives and setting up a research fund. In order to touch the fund you must do verifiable research on the ARM processor.

    And yes, it really *IS* as silly as that. And we are not talking about magical money.... It is strictly tax payer money. Remember that last pizza... well forget it...

  3. you can do stem cell research with federal money by thinkliberty · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sorry. But you CAN do stem cell research with federal money.

    Here are the basic guidelines:

    Federal funds will only be used for research on existing stem cell lines that were derived: (1) with the informed consent of the donors; (2) from excess embryos created solely for reproductive purposes; and (3) without any financial inducements to the donors. In order to ensure that federal funds are used to support only stem cell research that is scientifically sound, legal, and ethical, the NIH will examine the derivation of all existing stem cell lines and create a registry of those lines that satisfy this criteria. More than 60 existing stem cell lines from genetically diverse populations around the world are expected to be available for federally-funded research.

    No federal funds will be used for: (1) the derivation or use of stem cell lines derived from newly destroyed embryos; (2) the creation of any human embryos for research purposes; or (3) the cloning of human embryos for any purpose. Today's decision relates only to the use of federal funds for research on existing stem cell lines derived in accordance with the criteria set forth above.

    See:
    http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20 010809-1.html