Illinois Uses Executive Order to Fund Stem Cell Research

While some state legislatures debate banning public funds for some or all stem cell research, others are using whatever funding tools they have available to advance the controversial science. Some states use tobacco settlement money, others use revenue bonds, and still others use direct appropriations. Some states use voter referenda while most stay within the traditional state legislative process. The newest twist comes from Illinois, where Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is using an executive order to commit $10 million toward stem cell research.

Announcing the initiative in concert with Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, Gov. Blagojevich says the new Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute (IRMI) will award grants to medical research facilities for the development of treatments and cures. The program will be administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

The governor’s Executive Order directs that the IRMI program will provide funding for stem cell research that involves adult, cord blood and embryonic stem cells. Gov. Blagojevich's Executive Order also mandates that no funding be authorized for research involving human cloning, nor be awarded to anyone who purchases or sells embryonic or fetal tissue for research purposes. Time limits also will be set for extracting cells from blastocysts.

More information is available at: http://www.illinois.gov/news/newsgov.cfm