Stem Cell Politics In California

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Sadly, his seems to be a week for politics and obstruction rather than research. SFGate.com looks at what is happening to the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine: "Leaders of California's Proposition 71 stem cell research program launched a new campaign Monday against state legislation they say threatens to kill the $3 billion program before the first grants are issued. ... Both those developments underscore just how unsettled public policy has become as scientists try to fulfill the medical promise of regenerative medicine against a backdrop of ethical objections and funding uncertainties." Massive public funding makes for massive waste as groups fight slow legislative battles. In my humble opinion, it would be far more effective to eject government from research and regulation, letting scientists make rapid progress with philanthropic and private funding.

Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/05/24/BAGTFCTOKS1.DTL