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Stem Cell Research in California

With funding from CIRM available to California researchers, the state is in a unique position within the United States. Learn more about how CIRM changes the landscape of research in California and about laws in other states.

What are the federal restrictions on stem cell research?

Federal institutions can only fund research with human embryonic stem cell lines created before Aug. 9, 2001 when president Bush made his announcement regarding funding for stem cell research. At the time of the announcement it appeared that there were roughly 70 lines available for federal funding, but further investigation reduced that number to 22 lines, and many of those are showing signs of mutation from so many years of growing in a lab.

Despite these restrictions, the NIH is a major funder of stem cell research, though the majority of its funds go to adult stem cell research. However federal funds can’t be used to create new human embryonic stem cell lines or on research using such newly created lines, research that is critical in order to fulfill the promise of new therapies based on embryonic stem cell research.

In addition to not funding basic research, scientists cannot use their equipment or lab space paid for by federal funds to do work with non-federally approved human embryonic stem cell lines. This is why CIRM has invested more than $271 million in grants that fund the construction of new stem cell research facilities where work on all types of stem cells can take place.

How is the stem cell research environment unique in California?

In 2004, Californians passed Prop 71, creating the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The state stem cell agency will distribute $3 billion in grants over 10 years, and is the second largest source of funding for stem cell research in the United States. This influx of research money in California has already brought world renowned stem cell researchers from across the United States to California.

How will CIRM accelerate therapies?

As the largest source of funding for stem cell research outside the NIH, CIRM is funding novel research pathways in addition to identifying hurdles to new therapies and specifically funding approaches to overcome those barriers. CIRM has funded buildings that are needed in order to do the research without the restrictions that come with federal funding.  CIRM has also given out grants that encourage researchers to collaborate in teams to translate basic research into therapies. By being strategic about what types of research get funded CIRM will speed the time it takes to go from basic research to new therapies that help treat incurable diseases.

What are the economic implications of stem cell research?

Stem cell research has the potential to treat diseases that currently have high health care costs. Diabetes, for example, is among the most expensive chronic diseases. People with the disease require regular injections of insulin, monitoring equipment, regular doctor visits and have higher healthcare costs due to the eye, kidney, cardiovascular, and neural effects of the disease. Even if a stem cell-based therapy doesn’t entirely cure the disease, reducing its impact would be an enormous economic benefit.

In addition to reducing health care costs, the research is expected to be a boon to the biotech industry, bringing new companies to the state that provide high paying jobs. The new facilities will also provide construction jobs throughout the state.

What is happening with stem cell research in other states?

Individual states have passed legislation to allow some forms of human embryonic stem cell research, to provide some funding for the research or to specifically ban some research. A handful of states have passed laws to either fund stem cell research or at least encourage the research. Other states have laws that make the research extremely difficult and in some cases illegal.