Biotech Reporter Paul Elias of The Associated Press wrote this afternoon about the latest effort to tighten control over the California stem cell agency.
His story began: "Two state senators with opposite views on stem cell research forged an odd political alliance Wednesday when they introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to 'reform' the new $3 billion California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which is already facing two lawsuits seeking to put it out of business.
Sens. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, and George Runner, R-Lancaster, also introduced legislation banning for three years so-called 'multiple egg donations' from women who voluntarily submit to hormone injections to 'superovulate' in the name of research. If passed, that law would effectively prevent the agency from funding human cloning projects for medical research for three years."
The agency issued a statement a few minutes ago that said in part, "The initiative anticipated and the Institute is structured to provide significant conflict of interest regulations AND medical and ethical standards, especially those that protect women...."
"We welcome Senator Ortiz, Senator Runner and their colleagues’ participation in this ongoing process, and we look forward to collaborating together with members of the Legislature and the public in this important endeavor.
"At the time same time, the voters of California sent a clear message: they entrusted the Institute’s governing board, which is comprised of 29 prominent Californians -- leaders in academia, science, medicine, research, patient advocacy and business -- to move forward with the work ahead. This Board is dedicated to addressing all and more of the issues addressed by Senators Ortiz and Runner today.”
The legislative move, however, is certainly not good news for CIRM. We will have more on this subject Thursday morning.
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