CIRM-China Agreement?

The $3 billion California stem cell agency has reached a collaborative research agreement with China, according to a news report on the Internet.

Here is what Richard Daverman of ChinaBio posted this morning,

“In a story postdated to Monday, October 19, 2009, The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) revealed it has signed an agreement to collaborate on stem cell research with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

“The announcement was little more than a headline. Details will most likely be released on Monday.

“CIRM was established in 2004 with a $3 billion budget earmarked for funding research on stem cells. CIRM’s charter required that the money would be spent over a ten-year period, and grants would be given only to California-based institutions, both public and private. It is not clear how CIRM will cooperate with MOST, given the second provision.”

As of this writing, we could find no other reports on the subject. We are querying CIRM concerning the item.

CIRM has a number of collaborative agreements in place that include such countries as Spain, Canada and Germany. The arrangements provide for creation of international teams of researchers who bid jointly for grants. CIRM funds only research in California. The other countries put up their own cash.