© 2005 Oxford University Press
NEWS |
Without More Federal Support, Success of U.S. Stem Cell Research Questioned
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In the absence of broader federal support, alternate funding sources are taking the lead in promoting embryonic stem (ES) cell research in the United States. During the last year, Stanford and Harvard universities have launched multimillion-dollar ES cell programs with private funds, while California taxpayers authorized Proposition 71, a $3 billion, 10-year effort to advance the field's medical goals. States including Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are now considering their own stem cell programs, hoping to secure a foothold in this growing field of research.
As the main backers of stem cell science, these entities complement the National Institutes of Health, whose $28 billion annual budget supports most of the basic biomedical research in this country today. The NIH is a minor player in the field, however, committing just $24 million to ES cell research in 2004. Constrained by Bush administration policy, NIH-funded scientists are limited to studying
Varying Attitudes
Short-Term Implications?
Funding Challenges
Moving Forward