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#391 Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - GIVING THANKS FOR STEM CELL STATES In a moment, I would like to appreciate the stem cell funding states, all 14 of them. But first, a larger question: does it matter what the states do, in terms of funding stem cell research? Maybe they should leave the whole issue alone? Some advocates oppose state funding of stem cell research, arguing that our efforts should be focused on the National Institutes of Health. They point out that a new President could change the current restrictive policies dramatically. A supportive President would unquestionably assist the advancement of medical research. But can anyone guarantee such a leader? True, the Democratic candidates (Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Richardson, to name a few) support stem cell research, including embryonic and nuclear transfer research, as well as the non-controversial (and in my view less promising) adult stem cell methods. Among Republicans, the best we can hope for is a "least worst" situation. Giuliani and McCain are partially in favor, while Romney and Thompson completely oppose. But will even the strongest supporter in the White House make everything okay for embryonic stem cell funding? Unfortunately, no. Before we thank the states which already support stem cell research, here are ten reasons why federal action alone cannot suffice, and why state efforts deserve support. 1. Under current law, only state efforts like California's can develop new stem cell lines. Washington cannot legally fund the making of any new stem cell lines at all-- so long as the Dickey Amendment is renewed every year. The Dickey Amendment blocks the Feds from funding anything which "endangers" an "embryo"-- and the definition of both danger and embryo is changed every year, continually thwarting research. Sadly, very few Congressional and Senatorial folks even know what the Dickey Amendment is, or how this ideological barrier stops Federal money from developing new stem cell lines. 2. The Iraq/Afghanistan war has cripplingly indebted us, and will continue to do so. While my heart says "Get out now", my head fears we will probably not-which means still more blood and billions draining away... (One new study on the less obvious costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan war estimates the total expense will be more than three trillion dollars-enough to pay all Federal income taxes for a year and a half.) 3. The National debt is now a vast burden with which the next President must deal. The greenhouse effect will cost major amounts of money to fight. Every college in our nation faces financial difficulties, and state investment dollars are a help to them-and crucial to research advancement. Few realize that colleges are where most research begins. If colleges are unable to fund the basic research, that slows their states from benefiting from a biomedical revolution. Supporting state efforts now means getting them on the ballot in a Presidential election year-which means voter turnout could be huge-and we would get a truer picture of what America wants. Some states are so utterly controlled by conservative ideological forces that it may be all but impossible for them to fund embryonic stem cell research-but if they backed adult stem cell research (which I personally do not consider promising) they could at least find out what does not work. Also, it must be acknowledged that adult stem cell research has brought us important advances in some areas like the fight against cancer. My younger sister had adult stem cells given to her to fight the dread disease. It is not a perfect system, but it may have saved her life. Spreading out the research is vital for its advancement. We want the entire country working on the many scientific issues involved, for everyone's benefit, both by alleviating suffering through research for cure, and offering new and good-paying jobs. Look at Illinois-Detroit's automobile-making factories are in difficult times-but what if bio-med created a whole new growth industry there? A 50-state strategy allows us to both encourage and learn from supportive friends everywhere. If you name even the most difficult state (in terms of stem cell support) there are folks there who carry the belief forward- these are our greatest warriors, who support the research in the most relentlessly anti-research environments imaginable. Their contributions of strategy and energy are vital; we are going up against the entrenched power of organized conservative ideology. Finally, those who want an exclusively national approach cannot argue from success. On a national basis, what have we won? The very limited Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was proposed-which failed twice. True, we were able to beat back criminalization of SCNT research, which was a huge victory. But we did not win even national permissions for stem cell research beyond the narrow Bush approach, let alone any increase of funding. There is much to be done on the national level, no question about it. I support a major funding increase for the National Institutes of Health, a complete rejection of the Dickey Amendment, and a moon shot-sized effort to advance embryonic stem cell research. But that is not enough. We need the state efforts; they offer power. To name our most shining example, would anyone wish subtract California's magnificent stem cell program, the most important funding in our field? Below (in alphabetical order) is my best estimate of where the state stem cell money is now. Please understand this is an individual's list, aided and abetted by friends, but still doubtless flawed and incomplete. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)'s $3,000,000,000 (three billion) over ten years is the largest source of embryonic stem cell research funding in the world. By early spring of 2008, the CIRM will have dedicated more than $400 million to training, facilities and embryonic stem cell research grants. Pride compels me to note that California was also the first state to fund embryonic stem cell research, through the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999, named after my son. Connecticut: supported by Gov. M. Jody Rell, Connecticut currently provides $10 million a year for ESCR (Embryonic Stem Cell Research) spread over ten years. Indiana has a small amount of money, about $50,000, invested in adult stem cell research at Indiana University. Illinois: Gov. Rod Blagojevich has directed roughly $20 million (not sure what mix of adult to embryonic) to the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute thus far. Iowa: PENDING: Governor Chet Culver has proposed a $12.5 million Institute for Regenerative Medicine at University of Iowa. Maryland: the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 has appropriated $15 million for funding of (mixed adult and embryonic) stem cell research, of which $9 million has been distributed. Including funding carryovers, the state appears to have a total of $23 million available in 2008. Massachusetts: the University of Massachusetts was given one million in state money to set up a stem cell institute. Additionally, a life sciences center was set up with ten million in funding, from which stem cell research may derive. PENDING is a bill for $1,000,000,000 (one billion) over ten years. Governor Deval Patrick's bill appears to be primarily for infrastructure: education, tax breaks to encourage the biomedical industry, gap funding (supplemental funds for researchers when federal money is promised, but slow to arrive) and it is unclear (at least to me) how much is dedicated to research grants. New Jersey: Governor Corzine's legislation authorized $270 million in facilities grants, and an additional $10 million for stem cell research. The larger attempt, the New Jersey Stem Cell Research Bond Act ($450 million over ten years for stem cell research of all types) failed, primarily for lack of a campaign budget. To my knowledge, their campaign had a total of barely half a million (California's Proposition 71 raised $30 million for that campaign)-- to go up against the vast power of the Catholic church, the largest property holder on earth, which worked all year to defeat the bill. New Mexico: Governor Bill Richardson has allocated funds of roughly $6 million in 2008, a blend of facilities ($3.8 million) and research grants ($2.2 million). New York: Governor Elliott Spitzer has authorized $600 million over ten years for stem cell research, with a seeming preference for embryonic stem cells. Ohio: has spent $19.4 million on adult stem cell research. This state recently changed its laws to allow some funding for Bush-approved ESCR lines, and last year dedicated $8 million additional funding to their Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. Texas: an unknown quantity. The just-passed $3 billion Lance Armstrong-led Cancer Act neither mentions nor prohibits embryonic stem cell research; however, current state leadership promises no such research will be funded. On the adult stem cell front, it is my understanding that $41.1 million has been allocated for research at the University of Texas. Washington State: their Life Sciences Discovery Fund ($350 million tobacco settlement) has no specific stem cell set-asides, but in theory could be used for stem cell research. 14. Wisconsin: Governor Doyle established a $750 million investment fund, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, a mix of public and private funds, some of which will be used to build a research facility. It is my understanding that Governor Doyle also has a special one million dollar incentive for companies who start up embryonic stem cell efforts. As of this Thanksgiving, and for the foreseeable future, the states are where the action is. Don Reed www.stemcellbattles.com Don C. Reed is co-chair (with Karen Miner) of Californians for Cures, and writes for their web blog, www.stemcellbattles.com. Reed was citizen-sponsor for California's Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999, named after his paralyzed son; he worked as a grassroots advocate for California's Senator Deborah Ortiz's three stem cell regulatory laws, served as an executive board member for Proposition 71, the California Stem Cells for Research and Cures Act, and is director of policy outreach for Americans for Cures. The retired schoolteacher is the author of five books and thirty magazine articles, and has received the National Press Award. Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn