California's nearly 15-year-old stem cell research program, which expects to run out of cash this year, has called a meeting for next Thursday to explore its future if voters approve a proposed, $5.5 billion ballot measure next year.
"The goal of the meeting is to gather feedback, suggestions and recommendations for how (the agency) might deliver the greatest impact in regenerative medicine should it have the opportunity to do so in the future," said Maria Bonneville, vice president of administration for the agency.
In response to a query yesterday, Bonneville said about 30 persons were expected to be involved in the session, including a number of the scientists who participate in the closed-door reviews of grant applications from other researchers. The grant reviewers are all from outside California and make the de facto decisions on awards.
The session is open to the public. Bonneville said parts of the meeting will be audiocast on the Internet. She said the $3 billion agency expects to produce a report out of the meeting.
Members of the public can submit written testimony to the agency in advance of the meeting and afterwards by emailing it to info@cirm.ca.gov.
Backers of the $5.5 billion initiative to be placed on the November 2020 ballot expect to formally file it with state election officials by the end of this month.
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