The California stem cell agency is moving with dispatch to approve millions of dollars for stem-cell related research that would assist in the battle to fend off Covid-19 and ease the coronavirus crisis.
Meeting behind closed doors yesterday, the agency's reviewers evaluated 12 applications seeking $2.7 million in total funding, including one proposal at a clinical stage. The proposals were received about two weeks ago and were the first in the agency's special Covid-19s round.
It is standard practice for the reviewers to meet privately when considering applications.
The reviewers' decisions, still undisclosed, are expected to be ratified by the agency's governing board on Friday. The researchers are expected to be ready to begin work 30 days later.
Also yesterday, the agency received 16 more applications in the $5 million, rolling, coronavirus round. Four involved clinical applications. Three came from businesses and the rest from non-profits, including academic institutions.
The board's meeting is open to the public via the Internet. Instructions are available on the agenda of the meeting, which begins at 11 a.m. PDT.
Showing posts with label coronavirus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coronavirus. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Info Sources on Stem Cells and Covid-19
A California stem cell blog is digging into research involving cell therapies aimed at the coronavirus, and this week it posted a summary of the work that is underway from Texas to Israel.
The blog is called The Niche and is produced by UC Davis stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler. On Monday, he posted a quick look at six efforts. He also has probed claims involving Rudy Giuliani. On Tuesday, Knoepfler recommended a comprehensive view of of Covid-19 efforts published by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, an industry group.
From the East Coast, STAT news has made its impressive coronavirus coverage available free online. STAT's stories are generally several cuts above, in terms of quality, most of the mainstream media. The STAT coverage explores more deeply many of the scientific issues along with how the work is financed and carried out by biomedical companies, including stem cell approaches. Here is a link to the STAT coronavirus lineup.
The blog is called The Niche and is produced by UC Davis stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler. On Monday, he posted a quick look at six efforts. He also has probed claims involving Rudy Giuliani. On Tuesday, Knoepfler recommended a comprehensive view of of Covid-19 efforts published by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, an industry group.
From the East Coast, STAT news has made its impressive coronavirus coverage available free online. STAT's stories are generally several cuts above, in terms of quality, most of the mainstream media. The STAT coverage explores more deeply many of the scientific issues along with how the work is financed and carried out by biomedical companies, including stem cell approaches. Here is a link to the STAT coronavirus lineup.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Coronavirus Fallout: New and Bigger Hurdles Now Face $5.5 Billion California Stem Cell Measure
California's intensifying battle against the coronavirus is creating ever larger obstacles and uncertainty concerning the proposed $5.5 billion ballot initiative to refinance the state's stem cell research program, which is running out of money.
The new, statewide ban on public gatherings is certain to hamper the gathering of the 600,000-plus signatures needed to place the measure on the November ballot. No one knows how long that ban will be in place. Signature gathering in California largely occurs in public places using paid workers.
The financial fallout from the crisis also raises questions about whether funds can be raised to support the petition drive -- not to mention a fall ballot campaign that could cost in the neighborhood of $50 million. The usual contributors to such an effort are likely to feel financially squeezed, plus they may be refocusing on new and higher priorities dealing with health care, if they have cash they are willing to contribute.
The impact of the coronavirus crisis has already knocked off one ballot measure in Palo Alto, a wealthy Silicon Valley enclave. The school board there this week removed a $16-million-a-year property tax measure from its May ballot. An article in the Palo Alto Daily Post said,
The campaign had expected to submit more than enough signatures by late April. The California Stem Cell Report has queried the campaign for comment, but has received none.
The stem cell agency, known formally as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), was created in 2004 by voters with $3 billion in funding. It is now down to it last $27 million for awards.
The new, statewide ban on public gatherings is certain to hamper the gathering of the 600,000-plus signatures needed to place the measure on the November ballot. No one knows how long that ban will be in place. Signature gathering in California largely occurs in public places using paid workers.
The financial fallout from the crisis also raises questions about whether funds can be raised to support the petition drive -- not to mention a fall ballot campaign that could cost in the neighborhood of $50 million. The usual contributors to such an effort are likely to feel financially squeezed, plus they may be refocusing on new and higher priorities dealing with health care, if they have cash they are willing to contribute.
The impact of the coronavirus crisis has already knocked off one ballot measure in Palo Alto, a wealthy Silicon Valley enclave. The school board there this week removed a $16-million-a-year property tax measure from its May ballot. An article in the Palo Alto Daily Post said,
"'In order to do even a high-polling ballot initiative … the committee doing it needs to have a certain amount of resources, including money raised and feet on the street,' (school) trustee Melissa Baten-Caswell said. 'It is really not conceivable that they’re going to have enough to run the rest of the campaign in this time frame.'The financial squeeze is also being reported nationally. Some big national political donors backed the measure that created the stem cell program 15 years ago. Politico wrote just this morning,
"Campaigns across the country have canceled face-to-face fundraisers for the foreseeable future and are scrambling to figure out how to raise enough money to stay solvent. Big donors' stock portfolios are tanking. And small-dollar, online contributors — who have never been more important to campaigns — are facing sudden financial uncertainty and the real possibility of unemployment."Backers of the $5.5 billion stem cell initiative have until June 15 to complete the qualification process, which goes beyond simply gathering signatures. They must be verified by election officials as valid signatures of registered voters which can take some time.
The campaign had expected to submit more than enough signatures by late April. The California Stem Cell Report has queried the campaign for comment, but has received none.
The stem cell agency, known formally as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), was created in 2004 by voters with $3 billion in funding. It is now down to it last $27 million for awards.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Coronavirus Shutdown Hits California's Stem Cell Agency; Effort to Re-finance Research Program Hampered
California's $3 billion stem cell agency closed its physical doors this morning to avoid being considered, along with thousands of other San Francisco Bay Area enterprises, an "imminent threat to public health" under the terms of strict, new government orders.
Maria Millan, CEO and president of the Oakland-based agency, told her 34 employees yesterday that the action was being taken in compliance with legal orders issued by six Bay Area counties. The agency's staff will continue their work from home or elsewhere.
The stringent directives affect seven million people and businesses ranging from retail to entertainment. But many enterprises were exempted because of the services or goods they provide, such as supermarkets and banks.
Violation of the orders is deemed to be "an imminent threat to public health," a formidable piece of legalese that can be enforced by police.
The orders generally ban public gatherings, which would seem to mean effectively a ban in the Bay Area on public gathering of signatures to qualify a $5.5 billion stem cell research measure for the November ballot. The agency is running out of money and hopes to stave off its financial demise with approval of the measure next fall.
The deadline for completing the tedious qualification process for the ballot measure is June 15. Backers of the measure had hoped to have more than enough signatures by the end of April.
Yesterday's orders are in effect until at least April 7.
As a practical matter, the process of soliciting signatures for ballot measures in California was already encountering barriers because of safe distance and other concerns.
The campaign has not yet responded to questions concerning the impact of coronavirus situation.
The agency, formally known as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), had already allowed its employees to work from home. The agency funds research but does not actually perform it.
Americans for Cures, a Palo Alto patient advocacy group supporting the measure, said it would be working remotely in compliance with the new orders. The group was founded by Robert Klein, who oversaw preparation of the proposed stem cell initiative.
The agency says that none of its current portfolio, which includes 60 clinical trials, has specific application to the coronavirus. Here is the text of the note that Maria Millan, CEO and president of CIRM. sent to the agency's team yesterday.
Maria Millan, CEO and president of the Oakland-based agency, told her 34 employees yesterday that the action was being taken in compliance with legal orders issued by six Bay Area counties. The agency's staff will continue their work from home or elsewhere.
The stringent directives affect seven million people and businesses ranging from retail to entertainment. But many enterprises were exempted because of the services or goods they provide, such as supermarkets and banks.
Violation of the orders is deemed to be "an imminent threat to public health," a formidable piece of legalese that can be enforced by police.
The orders generally ban public gatherings, which would seem to mean effectively a ban in the Bay Area on public gathering of signatures to qualify a $5.5 billion stem cell research measure for the November ballot. The agency is running out of money and hopes to stave off its financial demise with approval of the measure next fall.
The deadline for completing the tedious qualification process for the ballot measure is June 15. Backers of the measure had hoped to have more than enough signatures by the end of April.
Yesterday's orders are in effect until at least April 7.
As a practical matter, the process of soliciting signatures for ballot measures in California was already encountering barriers because of safe distance and other concerns.
The campaign has not yet responded to questions concerning the impact of coronavirus situation.
The agency, formally known as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), had already allowed its employees to work from home. The agency funds research but does not actually perform it.
Americans for Cures, a Palo Alto patient advocacy group supporting the measure, said it would be working remotely in compliance with the new orders. The group was founded by Robert Klein, who oversaw preparation of the proposed stem cell initiative.
The agency says that none of its current portfolio, which includes 60 clinical trials, has specific application to the coronavirus. Here is the text of the note that Maria Millan, CEO and president of CIRM. sent to the agency's team yesterday.
"As we enter week two of our agency-wide telecommute, the COVID-19 crisis continues to intensify, resulting in additional containment measures with an increasing number of school, university and business closures, cancellation of gatherings, and severe travel restrictions. In addition, a three week 'shelter in place' order has just been issued for six counties in the Bay Area- San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa. As stated last week, this situation remains fluid, we are monitoring it closely and I am remaining in close contact with the LT, HR and our Board so we can continue to take appropriate action as needed.
"We are committed to working with our community to deploy containment measures in order to 'flatten the curve' of this outbreak and, as always, we are committed to the health and well-being of our employees and their families. In this spirit, and taking into account the containment response timing in our local communities, we will extend the CIRM agency-wide telecommute plan to April 13 . We will be in constant contact and will notify you of any additional changes. To date, there have been no documented or reported COVID-19 cases or exposure in CIRM employees. "Thank you for continuing our important work at CIRM, for your responsive support of our programs/grantees/patient advocates during this crisis and for continuing to execute our strategic goals. I’d like to acknowledge our IT department who have armed us with the technological tools to work remotely, our project managers for coordinating us and keeping the schedules on track and leadership for enabling their teams to remain productive. "Please feel free to contact your manager, HR, Maria B or me if you have any questions related to CIRM’s COVID response or if you need assistance in transitioning to the agency-wide CIRM telecommute plan. "Take good care & look forward to working with you from a distance (for now)."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)