CA: Stem cell agency awards more than $45 million in grants (CIRM)

California's stem cell agency on Friday doled out nearly $45 million in research grants to about 20 state universities and nonprofit research laboratories, far exceeding the federal government's annual outlays for the controversial work.

In issuing the first significant research grants in its two-year history, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine became the biggest financial backer of human embryonic stem cell research.

Two lawsuits challenging the state agency's constitutionality have prevented it from borrowing $3 billion from Wall Street bond markets. The first research grants came from a $150 million loan from the state and another $31 million in loans from philanthropic organizations.

"Today, we are making history," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who authorized the state loan last year and made a brief appearance at the agency's oversight board meeting.

The Republican governor's support of stem cell research puts him at odds with the Bush administration, which has limited federal funding to about $25 million annually out of moral opposition.

In response, California voters passed Proposition 71 in 2004 to create the institute and give it authority to borrow and spend $3 billion for the research. Schwarzenegger, who endorsed the ballot measure, said he would approve even more loans from the state if the agency runs out of money before the lawsuits are resolved.

The research aims to use stem cells - created in the first days after conception and giving rise to all the organs and tissues - to replace diseased tissue. But many social conservatives, including President Bush, oppose the work because embryos are destroyed in the process. The microscopic embryos are usually donated by fertility clinics.

The Republican governor's support of stem cell research puts him at odds with the Bush administration

The DBM has such a vested interest in keeping people ignorant of the difference between stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research. It is up to us to try to inform them.

The DBM has such a vested interest in keeping people ignorant of the difference between stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research.

Boy, you've got that right. And I've seen professional health-related organizations do the same thing, playing on people's ignorance to get them to "write your Congressman!!"

     When you go to Thomas and look up the history of H.R.3 (now S.5 in the Senate), you can see that it was officially introduced with the title "An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research". However, the term "embryonic" was removed from the short title given to the bill: "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007". It is by its short title to which a bill is referred. So, now instead of being referenced as "an act to provide for embryonic stem cell research", it is referred to as the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act".
     When you read the bill, you will find that it doesn't "provide for" embryonic stem cell research, it requires it. Yes, Freee-dame, the play on words is easy to see for the informed, and it works its magic on the uninformed.

     As for President Bush, you are so right, piytar. Supporters of embryonic stem cell research legislation imply that a presidential veto would block funding for stem cell research. That is not true, not even for embryonic stem cell research...because private investors can still provide funding. These folks never acknowledge that President Bush is the first president to provide federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. His only distinction was that federal funding would be given to research done on non-viable embryos, but not research dependent on the destruction of viable embryos. It is the latter that the current bill targets.

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