New Jersey Senate Approves $150M for Stem Cell Facility

Just over two months ago, Acting Gov. Richard Codey announced budget shortfalls were delaying the state's $380 million stem cell research initiative (see the April 25 issue of the Digest). Good news for at least part of the initiative, however, came last month in the form of legislation passed by the Senate, which allocated $150 million for construction of the planned world-class stem cell research facility.

Under the legislation, funding will come from existing unused bond capacity resulting from cigarette tax revenues. Also included in the legislation is $60 million in unused bonds to finance additional capital investments in biomedical and life science research across the state. The building, which is set to break ground next month, will include clinical facilities and enable researchers to move easily between laboratory research and patient care in hospitals. The bill now moves to the Assembly, where passage is uncertain.

Acting Gov. Codey also recently introduced legislation to authorize the state to seek voter approval to fund $230 million in grants supporting stem cell research, according to press materials (see the March 7 issue of the Digest).  More information on the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey is available at: http://www.state.nj.us/scitech/stem_home.html