ISSCR Announces Endorsement for California Initiative to Fund Stem Cell Research
The ISSCR announces its endorsement for the California initiative to invest $5.5 billion in stem cell research to continue the research and development of new therapies for life-threatening and devastating diseases. The new initiative will build on the historic $3 billion investment made by California in 2004, which created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and established the state as a leader in the field. While stem cell research holds enormous potential, more research is needed to develop and test safe and effective stem cell-based treatments. Deepak Srivastava, ISSCR President, released the following statement regarding the ISSCR’s endorsement:
“California’s proposed investment in stem cell research will continue advancing research that may yield new breakthroughs in the treatment of devastating diseases. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, created 16 years ago, is funding 60 clinical trials in 10 disease areas that are designed to uncover new knowledge and new therapeutic strategies to improve the lives of patients and their families. Those include trials addressing major public health challenges such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS, and heart failure, as well as devastating conditions like Huntington’s disease, Epidermolysis Bullosa, and Sickle Cell Disease. As the global voice of the stem cell research community, the ISSCR strongly supports the commitment that California has made in this promising field.”