Call for head of California stem cell institute to resign

An California biotechnology group has called for the resignation of Robert Klein, who is the chairman of the Proposition 71 stem cell agency known as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Jesse Reynolds, stem cell specialist at the group, the Center for Genetics and Society, said the Prop. 71 enterprise needs a fresh start after a year in business. This despite the fact that the institute has been mired in litigation that has blocked its ability to distribute funding into stem cell research projects.

The Oakland, CA advocacy group gave the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine an overall grade of "C-minus" in the 32-page report which examines how Prop. 71 has been implemented.

Most of the critique focused on inadequate governance and for providing more health protection for women who may be recruited as stem cell research subjects.

Klein, who is a Stanford-educated lawyer and real estate developer, was the key proponent in the proposition and led the 2004 election campaign after he became convinced that California needed to advance stem cell research to cure common diseases.

Prop. 71 provides for a $3 billion, 10-year fund to stimulate stem cell research in California ..

Read it all out in San Francisco - Call for head of stem cell institute to resign Biotech watchdog says Prop. 71 agency needs a fresh start

Stem Cell Research Funding in Maryland Brings Up Bioethics Issues

The currently $20 million plan by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s for funding stem cell research sparked criticism yesterday from scientists and legislators after a state official disclosed that preference will be given to work on non-embryonic stem cells.

Democratic legislators have been renewing their call for support of embryonic stem cell research, however, the lines have been clearly drawn for a debate that will dominate the General Assembly session in Maryland that began Wednesday.

Some allies to Ehrlich are arguing that state funds spent primarily on adult stem cell lines will advance science and thrust Maryland into the forefront of stem cell research. However, some scientists say that cells derived from embryos hold the most promise for scientific breakthroughs.

Maryland will be on the frontline of this debate in the near term, and will likely bring us more news .. now that the holidays have ended, I can get back to paying attention to these issues in more detail.

Read More in Maryland - Stem cell research funding in Md. raises bioethics issue