Klein and the Endorsement: CIRM Says No Comment

The California stem cell agency has no comment on the allegations that its chairman could be violating the law with his endorsement of a candidate for California lieutenant governor as detailed in the item below.

There are a number of interpretations of that sort of response. One is that the agency does not disagree with the assertion of illegality. Another is that they do disagree but for unknown reasons they choose not to share that belief with the public. Still another is that they do not know whether Klein's actions are illegal but they do not want to acknowledge their ignorance in public. And still another is that they do not want to engage in an exchange with an organization that sometimes has been held in low regard at CIRM. And yet one more is that they do not want to bring any more attention to the allegations by appearing to take them seriously. Or perhaps a combination of those considerations is the reason for the no comment response.

Does Klein's Endorsement of a Political Candidate Violate the Law?

The Biopolitical Times – the blog of the Center for Genetics and Society – has suggested that California stem cell Chairman Robert Klein has committed an illegal act by endorsing the Democratic candidate for California lieutenant governor.

Jesse Reynolds, a Center official who has followed CIRM since its inception, wrote:

"It's my understanding that as an appointed state official, he is prohibited from endorsing candidates for office."

Reynolds quoted a California State Supreme Court decision, Stanson v. Mott, as setting limits on electioneering by appointed officials. It said,

"A fundamental precept of this nation's democratic electoral process is that the government may not 'take sides' in election contests or bestow an unfair advantage on one of several competing factions. A principal danger feared by our country's founders lay in the possibility that the holders of governmental authority would use official power improperly to perpetuate themselves, or their allies, in office...; the selective use of public funds in election campaigns, of course, raises the specter of just such an improper distortion of the democratic electoral process."

Klein, of course, said he was endorsing John Garamendi as a private citizen – not as head of the Oversight Committee for the stem cell agency. If elected lieutentant governor, Garamendi would have the ability to appoint as many as five members to the 29-member Oversight Committee.

Reynolds wrote:

"His attempt at endorsing Garamendi as something other than his official capacity - chairman of the board of California's $3 billion stem cell program - is disingenuous and wrong. Everyone knows what his day job is. Klein's action is the equivalent of Leon Kass, then chair of the President's Council on Bioethics, lobbying Congress on stem cell research as a "private citizen" - a move that was
roundly criticized by stem cell research advocates."

Reynolds also cited an earlier item on the California Stem Cell Report which reported that Klein is head of Americans for Stem Cell Therapies and Cures, a lobbying and political action group. Reynolds continued:

"Klein chaired a similar advocacy organization, the California Research and Cures Coalition, just after the passage of Proposition 71. He resigned that post [PDF] under pressure. This is more egregious, in that the new organization is a lobbying outfit, not just an 'education' nonprofit. Moreover, it advocates for candidates that will appoint the board members whose support Klein needs to stay on in his official capacity. Klein must choose: Is he an advocate, or a public servant? He should resign from one of the two boards."

We are querying CIRM concernings its position on whether Klein can legally endorse candidates for state office. However, he and other state officials regularly make contributions to candidates for state office, an act that is tantamount to an endorsement and which is apparently not banned by state law.

The Scientist Magazine: WARF Patents Over-Reaching

The prestigious magazine, The Scientist, has taken on WARF and its stem cell ownership claims in two pieces that denounce the WARF patents as absurd and harmful to scientific research.

Richard Gallagher, editor of the magazine, and Glenn McGee , director of the Alden March Bioethics Institute in New York state, wrote an editorial and column, respectively, on the subject.

Gallagher said:

"Patents are a good thing. In general, they promote progress by encouraging research and development with incentives. But sometimes, they over-reach, and they impede progress rather than help it. This is one of those cases. The WARF patents point up the sometimes uncomfortable conflict between intellectual property rights and scientific freedom that many of our readers often feel as they find their way in the funding environment of the 21st century."

McGee wrote:

"So can someone own the cells that make up what is important about a human embryo? And if so, do we have to pay them every time we make our own embryonic cells, every time we make a medicine or other innovation from embryonic cells, and even when we use the cells to teach?

"Basically, if it looks like an embryonic cell, you'd better pay up. And if you try to make something out of your own embryo - yes, the one you made with your own body, from your own body - well, hope you have good lawyers."

He continued:

"In one among many of its attempts to avoid what could and should be a reversal of these patents stemming from the decision to review them, Wisconsin's Governor Jim Doyle has announced that companies who fund work at universities and nonprofits in that state will not have to pay any licensing fees. Previous attempts to ameliorate the problem have been more aggressive: offering to provide the cell lines at lower prices or to cross-license in a friendly way, for example. It wasn't enough for Californians, and now it appears it won't be enough to stop right-thinking people everywhere from filing suit, on moral grounds if nothing else.

"The protection of patents is supposed to extend to 'things under the sun made by man.' There has yet to be a serious challenge to the absurdity of patents on disease genes, and the even more absurd notion that the ability to find, to discover, constitutive parts of an embryo means that you own them."

CIRM Ripped for Secrecy

The California stem cell agency, which has sworn to uphold the highest standards of openness, has come under fire in the op-ed pages of The Sacramento Bee for its secrecy in the process of reviewing applications for tens of millions of public dollars in research grants.

John M. Simpson, stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights, took on CIRM. He wrote:

"Despite mouthing high-minded slogans, the institute's leaders frequently miss the mark whenever there is a clear opportunity to transact the public's business in public."

Simpson continued:

"No useful purpose is served by CIRM's penchant for secrecy. It should disclose who applied and where they are from, enabling all concerned to track awards and dispel worries about discrimination.

"There's no need to worry about embarrassing somebody because he didn't get a grant. CIRM is planning to fund only 12.9 percent of the applicants.

"Missing this cut is no big deal. Scientists need to develop thicker skins if they want to use public money for their work, and CIRM needs to let the sun shine in.

"Bottom line: They want our money. They must tell us who they are and ask for it in public."

Klein Says $150 Million Loan Up for Approval Later This Month

California stem cell Chairman Robert Klein has released a statement on Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneger's failure to fulfill – so far – his $150 million promise to bail out the fiscally strapped California stem cell agency.

More than three months ago the governor vowed to provide the money "now." Aides told CIRM that funds would be forthcoming by mid August.

Klein's statement did not explain why the delay has occurred but said a meeting of the CIRM Finance Committee will be held later this month to finalize the loan. Klein said the deal was "extraordinarily complex."

Stem Cell Politics: Beware the ESC Troglodytes

At one point stem cell advocates deplored the intrusion of politics into stem cell research. They pointed to President Bush's intrusion into the science as an example of how harmful it could be.
No more. Stem cell advocates are now hammering away at the need to throw out the nonbelievers and defeat the ESC troglodytes.
A fair amount has already been written about the stem cell political push elsewhere in the country. But the issue has surfaced in a few races in California as well.
One of the political enterprises involved is Robert Klein's Americans for Stem Cell Therapies and Cures, whose headquarters are located in his business offices. (Klein, of course, is also the chairman of the California stem cell agency.)
The Americans group has produced a report card on the California statewide races from governor to controller, but does not rate California legislative or congressional candidates. Singled out for special attention is State Sen. Tom McClintock, a Republican who is running for lieutenant governor.
Reporter Rebecca Veseley of the Contra Costa Times covered a news conference this week during which Klein disparaged McClintock as representing "the far right." Klein noted that the lieutenant governor can make five apppointments to the Oversight Committee for CIRM. He said that could place McClintock in a position where he could damage stem cell research. A spokesman for McClintock said he would apppoint "taxpayer watchdogs who will demand accountability."
Klein's group is primarily pushing a national agenda, building mailing lists, arranging for speakers and drumming up voter turnout.
Klein also makes personal political contributions. We do not yet know the figures for this fall, but he contributed $5,000 last spring to Debra Bowen who defeated Deborah Ortiz, a longtime stem cell advocate, for the Democratic nomination for California secretary of state. Ortiz riled Klein with her insistence on greater accountability from CIRM, and he lambasted her publicly "as an ongoing threat" shortly before the primary election last June.

$150 Million Snared in 'Red Tape'?

"Red tape and election year politics" apparently have delayed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's promised $150 million loan to the California stem cell agency, according to The Associated Press.

Reporter Paul Elias has written a follow on our report (see item below). Elias said:

"'This is a unique and extremely complicated financial transaction with a lot of moving parts,' said California Department of Finance spokesman H.D Palmer. 'It has taken a little bit longer than anticipated, but nobody has been slow on this.'"

Palmer's position is much different than that of Schwarzenegger in July when he indicated, in a politically timed announcement, that the money would be made available promptly. His aides also said they expected funds the paperwork to be completed in mid-August.

Missing: Arnold's Promised $150 Million Stem Cell Loan

Last July, in the heat of the national debate about stem cell research, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made headlines by promising $150 million to bail out the fiscally strapped California stem cell agency.

Today, more than three months later, the agency has not seen one dime of the promised loan despite the governor's July 21 statement that CIRM "need(s) the money now." Schwarzenegger said that it was "critical we take action" and that money should begin flowing "as soon possible."

The California Stem Cell Report queried both the governor's office and CIRM concerning Schwarzenegger's failure to provide the money. The governor's office has not responded to our request on Friday about what has blocked the cash. CIRM also has been less than informative.

Dale Carlson, spokesman for the agency, said that the State Department of Finance "needs to review the loan documents which are still being written," but declined to elaborate.

Unexplained was whether there is some problem with making the loan to CIRM, which one would think would be a fairly routine procedure that could be executed in less than three months. Unexplained also was the exact nature of the loan mechanism, which was not discussed in news reports at the time of the governor's announcement.

Anne Sheehan, an aide to the governor, told the CIRM Oversight Committee at the beginning of August that the loan amounted to "uncharted waters" for the state but that she expected action on it by the middle of August.

Since Schwarzenegger's politically exquisite timing of the loan announcement, which received worldwide attention, he has been involved in a re-election campaign in which he has built a commanding lead over his Democratic opponent, state Treasurer Phil Angelides. Perhaps the campaign has distracted Schwarzenegger's office from fulfilling the loan promise.

California stem cell Chairman Robert Klein alluded to the pressures of the campaign at a meeting of the CIRM Oversight Committee earlier this month. He indicated that the elections had made it difficult to hold a meeting of the CIRM Finance Committee, a special body created by Prop. 71, to approve issuance of CIRM bonds.

However, neither CIRM nor the governor's office explained if or why the Finance Committee would be involved in a loan between two state entities. Klein indicated that the Finance Committee, at its next meeting, would review more requests for bond anticipation notes, which are expected to be issued to private contributors to CIRM.

A July 20 press release by CIRM cited a section of Prop. 71 that appears to allow the state director of finance to provide funding to CIRM from the state's general fund if it is within the amount of unsold bonds authorized by the Finance Committee. That group has already approved $200 million in bonds, which have not been sold, so it would appear giving CIRM the $150 million is a simple ministerial act, but maybe not.

Klein said he hoped the Finance Committee could meet very soon after the fall elections, which will come a week from Tuesday.

The stem cell agency has been strapped for funds because of lawsuits that have blocked the issuance of state bonds that would fund it. It has operated, for the most part, on the basis of private contributions and loans since it began operations in late 2004. CIRM did not respond to a question from the California Stem Cell Report about whether the failure to provide the loan has created any financial difficulties at the agency.

Welcome to The Biopolitical Times

The Center for Genetics and Society has entered the blogosphere with a site called The Biopolitical Times. Initial topics are heavily tilted to the current relationship between vote-crazed politicians and their attempts to exploit embryonic stem cell research.

An excerpt from an item by Marcy Darnovsky:

"We’ve moved on from Fox and counter-Fox, wherein Rush Limbaugh demonstrates that “big idiot” is far too kind. Now we have top-level Democrats demonstrating their skill in cheap emotional blackmail. The take-home sentiment of a new ad by Majority Action, a Democratic 527, is that the Stem Cell Saviors will cure us all. And anyone who doubts that may as well have the blood of that sweet little six-year-old on their hands. This ad should be as embarrassing to those of us who support embryonic stem cell research as Limbaugh’s antics should be to its opponents."

The center, which has actively tracked the California stem cell agency, is inviting comments, private or public, on the site.

Stem Cell Snippets: Warehouses, Fox Ad and Pombo

Here links to some stories related to California stem cell issues:

UC Davis – A warehouse in Sacramento is being converted into a $75 million stem cell research center by UC Davis. Reporter Jim Downing of The Sacramento Bee wrote:

"The new director of the Davis program, Jan Nolta, starts work Nov. 1. Nolta, who grew up in Willows, was recruited from Washington University in St. Louis along with longtime collaborator Gerhard Bauer, an Austrian native who is an an expert in the design and management of ultra-clean laboratories. Nolta and Bauer were at the UC Davis Medical Center on Wednesday as U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, toured the laboratories of Mark Zern, an organ transplant expert whose research team is studying ways to use embryonic stem cells to regenerate the liver."

Michael Fox – His stem cell TV ad rivals the nuclear destruction commercial in the 1964 presidential race in terms of free air time, according to one longtime observer at the Poynter Institute, a newspaper think tank.

Pombo – Stem cell research rose to a higher level of visibility in a Central Valley congressional race in California. Reporter Lisa Vorderbrueggen of the Contra Costa Times wrote the story concerning incumbent Republican Richard Pombo and Democrat Jerry McNerney.

Arlington Speaks on CIRM's Orphan Software

The head of the Arlington Group, the defunct grant review software firm used by the California stem cell agency, says that CIRM has not acquired the copyright or intellectual property rights to the program used by the agency and other major grant providers.

Earlier, we reported that the San Diego Union-Tribune quoted CIRM President Zach Hall as saying that the agency owned the computer codes involving the grant review program. (See item below.)

In response to an inquiry from the California Stem Cell Report, Mary Taylor, CEO and founder of Arlington, provided the following statement that we are carrying verbatim:

"CIRM acquired the rights to the Easygrants software source code to use, modify, or have modified for them for their business purposes.

"They did not acquire the intellectual property, distribution rights, copyright, etc. Second, Arlington Group delivered to CIRM all of the work that had been done to date on their system, including significant documentation of requirements for the system configuration, as well as the initial development work. With this in hand, when they begin working with the new development group, they can hit the ground running.

"Finally, with this transaction, CIRM is saving the state money on license fees for 2007 and forward. So while it was an unexpected challenge, worst of all for AG, CIRM has taken the steps needed to ensure their success and be good stewards of the state's money."

Why is all this important? Orphaned software can be a disaster. Often it is poorly documented internally, without explanations of how the code was constructed and works. When glitches occur, that makes it extremely difficult to maintain by the purchasers. That can mean that information is lost and cannot be compiled properly. Hopefully that is not the case here.

Death of CIRM Software Firm Only a 'Hiccup'

The California stem cell agency, which faces an enormous task in reviewing a flood of grant applications, is minimizing the impact of the demise of the company that produced the software for evaluating and coordinating the applications.

Reporter Terri Somers of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that the Arlington Group of McLean, Va., suddenly went "belly up," leaving CIRM in a digital lurch.

But, she also wrote, CIRM President Zach Hall said that CIRM now owns the computer codes behind the Arlington program. Somers continued:

"There was no warning that Arlington was about to go out of business, Hall said. Apparently an investor withdrew his money unexpectedly, causing the company to fold, he said.

"Before that happened, the institute had paid $108,000 to Arlington, Hall said.

"The institute has since contracted with a new company, composed of former Arlington employees, to build the system at a cost equal to what it was to have paid the defunct company, Hall said."

The original eight-year contract called for payment of $233,474 in the first year.

Somers reported:

"'This has been a hiccup for us in terms of time schedule,' Hall said. 'But it's not a major issue.'"

Dale Carlson, spokesman for CIRM, today told the California Stem Cell Report,

"We got the source code, which will be helpful to us going forward. We've got their senior developers ready to work with us. It isn't delaying the review of the grants. It isn't costing us any more money. And we're talking with Arlington's major customers about an ongoing network to support the platform."

Those customers include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

(Editor's note: A slightly earlier version of this item did not include the last two paragraphs.)

The $25 Million Bioethicists' Dog

The blog at the American Journal of Bioethics has addressed the issue of big money and "the butcher's avarice" in the stem cell wars being fought across the country in this fall's election.

Specifically Jim Fossett, director of health and Medicaid studies at the Rockefeller Institute, wrote on Oct. 21 about the Missouri tussle and noted how California led the way. He also had this to say:

"There are huge amounts of money at stake in the embryonic stem cell research debate, and much of the political and financial support for such initiatives is coming from parties that expect to get something out of them—large research grants, potentially lucrative patents and commercial opportunities, scientific prestige, political credit and campaign contributions, tax revenue and jobs. Bioethicists also have a dog in this fight — CIRM’s draft strategic plan earmarks $25 million to examine the social, ethical, etc. implications of stem cell research, and there have been complaints from some quarters that this isn’t enough. By the rules that govern politics and the markets, this is absolutely ok. The right to petition the government for a redress of grievances is enshrined in the Constitution, and capitalism relies on rewards to those who provide society with useful things. The desire for money and status is perfectly compatible with, and is frequently accompanied by, a deeply felt desire to do good and heal the sick. Those who find the scramble for money distasteful might usefully contemplate Adam Smith—'It is not by the butcher’s altruism, but by his avarice, that we may expect to receive our dinner.'"

Klein Helps Aussies in Stem Cell Fray

California stem cell Chairman Robert Klein recently sang a stem cell tune that was "music" to some Australian ears. So says reporter Leigh Dayton in a story in The Australian.

Australia is caught up in a bit of controversy over stem cell research, and Klein visited there to support the forces of embryonic stem cell research.

Dayton wrote:

"'Mr Klein generously offered to visit Australia to help us in the current legislative climate," (Stephen) Livesey (CEO of the Australian Stem Cell Center) says. 'He provided the Australian stem cell science community with advice on how to engage the public, patients and politicians on the complex topic of stem cell research.'"

Klein's stem cell drum beating had a familiar sound to those who have heard him speak in California, but wa swelcomed down under.

Dayton reported:

"Clearly, Klein's words are music to the ears of Australian scientists and patient advocacy groups pushing to change the nation's embryo research and anti-cloning legislation."

The Australian account said Klein was "a guest" of the Australian Stem Cell Center last week, but did not specifically make clear who funded his trip. CIRM says it did not pay for his trip.

Stem Cell Snippets: Conflicts, WARF and Politics

Here are links to items of interest related to California stem cell matters.

Conflicts of Interest – Maryland is wrestling with the same conflict-of-interest questions that dog the California stem cell agency. Erin Bryant of Capital News Service wrote that legislation creating the Maryland stem commission built in the conflicts and does not spell out whether commission members are allowed to vote on applications from their own institutions. One member of the group thinks they should.


WARF – Longtime WARF stalwart Beth Donley is leaving that organization. Donley, the foundation's general counsel, had worked for the organization for eight years. Only six weeks ago she too control of its WiCell affiliate. Donley said she wants to move on to the "next level" – the private sector. That could be translated as higher compensation. It does seem odd that she is leaving so soon after her appointment to the WiCell position. Here is a link to Joe Vanden Plas' story on the Wisconsin Technology Network.


NEJM – The New England Journal of Medicine has a couple of pieces on the politics of stem cells and the flap over the ACT stem cell extraction announcement. Nothing new in the ACT item, but it is a straight-forward delineation of what occurred as compared to the somewhat muddled accounts elsewhere. Likewise with the politics piece.

Who is John Reed?

The 29 men and women who direct the California stem cell agency labor largely in public anonymity. While they oversee the expenditure of $6 billion in public funds, what makes them tick is really not known by the folks whose interests they represent.

Now comes a piece by Terri Somers of the San Diego Union-Tribune concerning John Reed, one of the members of CIRM's Oversight Committee and chief executive of the Burnham Institute in La Jolla, Ca.

So who is Reed? An accomplished scientist and triathlete who rises at 3 a.m. and who "exudes the wholesome earnestness of a patriarch in a 1950s black and white sitcom." He also sings rock at company soirees.

Somers, however, devotes most of her piece to Reed's professional accomplishments. An excerpt:

"Since delving into apoptosis, Reed has written more than 550 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 50 book chapters. He has the distinction of having published more papers on programmed cell death during the past decade than any other scientist worldwide, according to the Institute for Scientific Information. He was also recognized by the Institute for Scientific Information as the world's most cited scientist in all areas of research from 1997 to 1999."

We confess to a fondness for profiles about people such as Reed -- people who actually do the job, provide the leadership and set the tone of enterprises. But good profiles are rare in the media. It is difficult to create a three-dimensional portrait of an individual in the amount of time provided by most newspapers or media outlets. Not all reporters have the skills to crawl inside, so to speak, another person's personality. Perhaps the most difficult part of reporting a profile is to find persons who know the subject of the profile well and who are willing to comment critically and publicly about him or her. After all, none of us are perfect, and to be complete a profile should reflect at least some of that imperfection.

That said, we would like to see more profiles, regardless of their limitations.

Stem Cell Snippets: Rentals to DNA

Here are links to some interesting items related to stem cell issues.

Sharing – One of the goals of the upcoming rounds of lab grants by the California stem cell agency is to increase the sharing of CIRM-funded facilities with other nearby scientists not so fortunate as to have access to the costly gear needed for research. The topic has not received much media attention but its importance was highlighted in an article by Bernadette Tansey of the San Francisco Chronicle. "Microscope for hire" was the headline. In this case, the article discusses UC San Francisco's plans to rent out their tools, six new microscope worth $2 million.

Diver Don – Ubiquitous stem cell advocate Don Reed popped up in the lead of a story by Jason Gertzen in the Kansas City Star looking at the Missouri stem cell measure, which is on the November ballot. The piece used Reed, a former professional scuba diver, as an example of the folks who hope for cures. Reed, meanwhile, is exhorting -- via his website, stemcellbattles.com – the millions of folks with disabilities throughout the country to vote for their best interests in the November election.

Tell-All –-J. Craig Venter is baring all, according to reporter Antonio Regalado of the Wall Street Journal. Venter is just about ready to release his DNA to the world. Venter, you may recall, was the gent best known for his efforts to be the first to decipher the full sequence of the human genome. An interesting piece about a controversial scientist. Here is a link to a free version of the story.

Setting Sail Again – Sort Of

The California Stem Cell Report is leaving the Old Country Tuesday and returning to its home port in Romantic Old Mexico. We have concluded an excellent visit to California, playing with grandchildren and family and now are flying back to ready Hopalong, our sailboat and only home, for a winter's cruising along the west coast of Mexico. Hopalong has been resting at a berth near Guaymas, but we will haul her onto dry land to pull one of her masts to make repairs. The work schedule means that we may not be filing items as often as we have over the past weeks.

Meantime, keep reading the report, send along your comments and tips and whatever else you think may be of interest. We can be reached at djensen@californiastemcellreport.com or you can post a comment by clicking on the word "comments" that appears after each item.

SEED Grant Hopefuls Total 232; Names Remain Secret

A whopping 232 applications competing for $24 million in grants has deluged the California stem cell agency – a figure that CIRM today said demonstrated "the keen interest in the field and the pent up demand for funding for human embryonic stem cell research."

Names of not only the scientists but also their institutions, many of them likely state-funded schools, are secret by the decision of CIRM. However, nothing prevents the applicants themselves from disclosing the fact that they have applied for state funding, and some are expected to do so.

Failure to disclose the names of persons and institutions seeking state funds is poor governmental policy and hardly complies with CIRM's oft repeated pledge for the highest standards of transparency and openness.

John M. Simpson, stem cell project director for the Foundation of Taxpayer and Consumers Rights of Santa Monica, Ca., said:

"The stem cell institute missed another opportunity to operate transparently and build the public’s trust when it announced today that it received 232 applications for 30 SEED research grants from researchers affiliated with 36 nonprofit institutions.

"Californians have a tremendous interest in knowing how this pool is cut to 30 grantees. All would be better served if the names of the applicants and their institutions were released. If you want our money, tell us who you are.

“There’s no need to worry about embarrassing somebody because they don’t get a grant. CIRM is planning to fund only 12.9 percent of the applicants. Missing this cut is no big deal. Scientists need to develop thicker skins if they want to use public money for their work and CIRM needs to let the sun shine in."

(You can read more on this subject at "sunshine needed," "bad policy," "secrecy broken" and "CIRM defends.")

In a CIRM press release, Arlene Chiu, CIRM director of scientific programs, said, "We’re delighted that there is such strong competition for our inaugural research initiative, and that the applicants are considering such a broad range of approaches. It bodes well for the future of our program."

The grants are expected to be awarded in January – the first research funded by the agency since it was created in 2004. Review of the applications, a prodiguous task, is scheduled for late November. (See item below.)

SEED Grant Applications Pour Into CIRM

The California stem cell agency was flooded last Friday with applications for the $24 million SEED grant program but the exact number is not expected to be released until Monday.

Initially, 301 letters of intent were filed for about 30 SEED grants with 78 letters for the $80 million comprehensive grant program. Roughly 40 California institutions were represented. The names of those filing letters of intent and applications for public funding are secret. Only those winning grants will be identified by CIRM.

Nearly overwhelmed by the numbers, CIRM earlier asked institutions to certify that letters of intent were filed by "principal investigators." Dale Carlson, a spokesman for CIRM, said "only five or six" letters were eliminated as a result of the certification process.

On Oct. 1, we reported concerns that the certification effort was unfair and penalized younger scientists. (See "whittling down the researchers.") That issue came up indirectly during last week's meetings of the Oversight Committee.

Chairman Robert Klein noted that one of the goals of the agency is to expand the number of stem cell researchers. He asked CIRM President Zach Hall whether a future round of grants would be proposed to advance that effort.

John Reed, a member of the Oversight Committee and president of the Burnham Institute, also indicated that younger researchers ought to be encouraged.

Hall responded that the SEED grant program was not meant for staff scientists or post-doctoral applicants. He indicated that a grant program aimed at younger scientists could be worthwhile sometime in the future.

To help deal with the imposing number of grants, the Oversight Committee last week added 18 alternate members to the grants working group in addition to the existing 16 alternates. Fifteen scientists sit as regular members of the group.

Just how the review process will work is not entirely clear. The California Stem Cell Report plans to post an item in the near future dealing with the mechanics of how the reviewers will go through the grants.

The agency has scheduled Nov. 28-30 for review of the SEED grant applications by the Grants Working Group. Applications for comprehensive grants are due Nov. 13 and scheduled to be reviewed Jan. 8-10.