In a matter of a few minutes this afternoon, directors of the California stem cell agency approved $68 million in new financing rounds, including a $30 million business-friendly effort to speed development of clinical therapies.
The proposals received almost no discussion as four board members scurried for flights or to return home. Their departure left the 29-member board without the 19-member quorum needed to act legally. The board was already short of a full contingent of members.
In addition to the business loan program, the board approved a $35 million basic biology round and a $3 million program to provide internships for high school students at research labs. The funding goes to the labs, which then pick the students.
Action on the items came swiftly after CIRM Chairman Jonathan Thomas told directors they had only 20 minutes to approve them before the quorum was lost.
Here is the CIRM press release on the plans.
Nobody on this board cares anymore. Why should they?
ReplyDeletewhen will CIRM start to get some good media coverag? Great research, good scientists and at the beginning of this year they had some good front page stories about the science. Where are the good news stories to counter all the bad?
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