California Stem Cell Group Produces Nothing in Spite of $3 Billion Initiative

[Guest guest]

[The group does have lots of meetings, though. This, as predicted

by many, seems on tract to waste a lot of money with few, if any,

benefits.]

The research, stalled by legal challenges, offers no guarantees of

cures, California institute scientists say as they outline more

modest goals.

By Engel, Times Staff Writer

December 3, 2006

The meeting was almost over when Roman steered his wheelchair

to the microphone.

On the table before him sat a 149-page book of budget charts and

timetables, the first concrete outline of what California's voter-

approved stem cell institute plans to accomplish in its 10-year

lifespan.

" I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, " said to the

institute's staff and 29-member oversight board in October. " I

promised my son that one day I would be able to walk, stand next to

him and go hold my wife's hand. And seeing this road map to cures, I

know that this will come true. "

The room at Los Angeles' Luxe Hotel thundered with applause for the

Fremont resident, who broke his neck while playing college football

in 1994.

Despite the enthusiasm of and his audience, the book offered no

promise of a cure for his paralysis.

Two years after California voters authorized $3 billion in bonds to

fund stem cell research, the institute created to oversee the

enterprise has just begun what experts see as a long and slow

scientific journey. Even with the $150-million state loan approved

recently to kick-start work stalled by legal challenges, there are

no breakthroughs in sight. Gone are the allusions to healing such

afflictions as spinal cord injuries and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's

diseases that dominated the 2004 campaign for Proposition 71. In

fact, scientists say, there is no guarantee of cures — certainly not

any time soon — from the measure that was optimistically titled the

California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act.

Set for final approval at UC Irvine this week, the draft plan is

clear: " It is unlikely that [the California Institute of

Regenerative Medicine] will be able to fully develop stem cell

therapy for routine clinical use during the 10 years of the plan. "

Read the rest at:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-

stemcell3dec03,1,707176.story?coll=la-headlines-california