Monday, March 31, 2014

California's $40 Million Stem Cell Genomics Award Still Hanging Fire

The California stem cell agency's $40 million award to a Stanford-Salk group for stem cell genomics research is not yet a done deal.

The award was approved more than two months ago by the agency's board. However, the proposal is now caught up in a staff review of the nitty-gritty of its details.

 Agency employees, as a routine matter, go through all board-approved applications to be sure all matters are in order, ranging from commitments on matching funds to overall considerations concerning the recipient's research budget.

Sometimes changes are made as the result of the staff review. In rare cases, the recipient declines the award. (See here and here for two stories about recipient rejection of the California agency's cash.)

The California Stem Cell Report earlier today inquired about the status of the stem cell genomics award.

Kevin McCormack, senior director of public communications for the agency, said it had not cleared the staff review. Asked whether there were particular issues, McCormack replied,
“No. Some things just take time.”


In the wake of the award, which was approved on a 6-1 vote by the 29-member board, the agency initiated an examination of the grant review process in the genomics round.

Board member voting on the award was limited because of widespread conflicts of interest among the agency's governing board.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10:26 AM

    CA voters approved $3B for studies of human cells made from human embryos and their therapeutic use for diseases. CIRM directors took advantage of their positions to get $30, $40, $70M without having to do any stem cell research, spent on anything but what voters approved, turned public resource into personal property, have not made any progress to what has been approved by voters, not even made one single human cell line or product from embryos, almost used up all the $3B. Now CA voters have to pay tax for their corruption. What a government agency!!!

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