Remember how urgent it was to support embryonic stem cell research? That was then; this is now – BioEdge

Remember how urgent it was to support embryonic stem cell research? That was then; this is now

The hot button bioethical issue of 2004 was embryonic stem cell research. Supporters spoke of life-saving cures and dismissed ethical misgivings. Surfing a wave of hope, Californian voters voted for a US$3 billion bond issue to establish the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Sixteen years later, the CIRM has almost run out of money and its backers are rattling the tin in the hope that voters will approve a $5.5 billion bond issue to support its research.

Some of the states major newspapers have editorialised against it. With many of its critics, they contend that the CIRM has not delivered on its miracle cures, that its governance has been poor and that there was too much potential for conflict of interest.

The Los Angeles Times decried the earlier over-sell:

[The CIRM] hasnt yet yielded a significant financial return on investment for the state or the cures that were ballyhooed at the time. Though no one ever promised quick medical miracles, campaign ads strongly implied they were around the corner if only the funding came through. Proponents oversold the initiatives and voters cant be blamed if they view this new proposal with skepticism.

The San Francisco Chronicle, which exposed some of the CIRMs deficiencies in a 2018 expos, criticised the way its funds had been spent:

More than half the original funding went to buildings and other infrastructure, education and training, and the sort of basic research that, while scientifically valuable, is a long way from medical application. Theres nothing inherently wrong with that, but it is at odds with the vision of dramatic advancements put to voters."

Michael Cook is editor of BioEdge

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Remember how urgent it was to support embryonic stem cell research? That was then; this is now - BioEdge