Stem Cell Research Target of More State Dollars in Iowa, Md., Fla.

In Iowa

Less than two weeks after his inauguration, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver called for the state legislature to lift the state ban on embryonic stem cell research. The ban was first instituted in 2002.



Gov. Culver made the announcement at the University of Iowa's Medical Education and Research Facility. He also announced that when he presents his budget to the legislature, he will include $12.5 million for the construction of Iowa's Center for Regenerative Medicine to be built at the university.



"Simply lifting the ban will not be enough," said Gov. Culver. "We must commit state resources now to finding a cure and ensuring a high quality of life for future generations. Right now, Iowa is at a competitive disadvantage with other states. While surrounding states like Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri are moving forward to build research facilities, lure away our researchers and pass new legislation allowing embryonic stem cell research, Iowa continues to tie the hands of our best health science professionals with an outdated ban on this lifesaving research."



The original ban was passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature in 2002 and signed by former Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat who has since called for a repeal of the ban. After the 2006 fall elections, Democrats took control the Iowa state legislature as well as retaining the governorship. 



Gov. Culver's press announcement is available at: http://www.governor.iowa.gov/news/2007/01/12_1.php



In Maryland

To satisfy all proposals for funding received in response to the first two requests for applications for the $15 million Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, the program would need to be more than five times larger, the Maryland Stem Cell Commission reports. To help satisfy the pent-up demand, newly elected Gov. Martin O'Malley proposes providing the research fund an additional $10 million in his 2008 budget request.



The commission received 85 applications for grants ranging in size from $100,000 exploratory research grants to investigator-initiated research grants that could garner state support of $500,000 annually for up to three years.



More information is available at: http://www.marylandtedco.org/_media/pdf/MSCRFApplications1-17-07.pdf



In Florida

A change in leadership in Florida's governorship, but not party, may increase the likelihood that the state may invest $20 million in stem cell research if either version of recently introduced identical bills pass the legislature. Newly elected Republican Gov. Charlie Crist has made it a prominent piece of his first budget request. The concept also is supported by a fellow Republican, Senate President Ken Pruitt, according to The Ledger, a Lakeland, Fla., newspaper publication.



Despite his investing huge public financing for private biotech research during his term, former Gov. Jeb Bush opposed state funding for stem cell research.



The new bills, House Bill 555 and Senate Bill 750, were introduced by Democrats on Jan. 23 and would allow state funding for adult and embryonic stem cell research. Gov. Crist's support is critical for either measure to advance, analysts suspect, as both chambers of the Florida legislature are heavily controlled by Republicans. The Ledger reports House Speaker Marco Rubio is opposed to the idea.



HB 555 is available at http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/bills.aspx



The Ledger article from Jan. 23 is available at: http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/APN/701233486