Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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San Francisco Examiner - October 20, 2004
Mary F. Albert, Staff Writer
Although California Nurses Association president Deborah Burger acknowledged that the governor's endorsement probably helped the cause of those who would like to see the measure approved, that has not deterred her or other opponents from trying to convince people that the initiative is flawed.
Even though Burger said she largely supports stem cell research, she also believes the measure won't deliver on the promises it makes.
"I think that a lot of the groups for this initiative think this is their last chance to get stem cell research on the ballot," said Burger. "But I don't think so. I think we can do it better."
As written, the measure would authorize the state to sell $3 billion over 10 years in general obligation bonds to fund human stem cell research in California.
Not-for-profit research institutes would have to apply for funding by writing grants that would be approved by a panel of scientists. The scientists would not work for organizations that stand to gain from the grants.
Stem cells have the potential to develop into many different kinds of specialized cells. Past stem cell research on animals has allowed scientists to better understand how healthy cells replace damaged cells, which is why many members of the Bay Area's medical and scientific community, such as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, have endorsed the measure.
Stanford Professor Emeritus of Cancer Research and Nobel Laureate Paul Berg said he is supporting the measure because of the possibilities it offers for finding cures to juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's.
"I think most of the scientific community recognizes these are pregnant possibilities," said Berg, who explained that mice with the same genetic defects as human diabetics have survived after receiving replacement cells, also known as cell therapy.
David Gollaher of the California Healthcare Institute explained that the additional dollars would be a boon for the state's universities and research institutes, saying, "$300 million a year translates to a lot of jobs."
In the long term, this also helps grow the state's biomedical industry, said Gollaher, since biomedical and biotech companies such as South City's Genentech will be able to use the research findings to develop medicines.
The commercial benefits of the measure are what some opponents cite as questionable.
"I am hoping that people will read the initiative and realize what it is all about -- the money," said Burger, who explained that some women will be paid to contribute their eggs.
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