Victory for Stem Cell Research!

 

On Saturday morning, March 31, 2007, Governor Spitzer, Lieutenant-Governor Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Bruno, and Assembly Speaker Silver signed off on a long-term package to fund stem-cell and regenerative medicine research in the State of New York, beginning with an appropriation of $100 million for fiscal year 2007-2008 that began April 1st. IINYS is a member of New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research, which has taken the lead in the long effort to achieve State funding for stem cell research, and everyone invloved deserves congratulations. This has been an outstanding effort that once again demonstrates the value of cooperation and persistance in achieving our goals. 

 

The bill provides for creation of an Empire State Stem Cell Board within the State Department of Health that will include a Funding Committee and an Ethics Committee, both of which will be chaired by the Commissioner. The Funding Committee will consist of 12 members in addition to the Chair, all of whom will be appointed by the Governor, either directly (six members) or indirectly, upon nomination by legislative leaders (six members).  The primary task of the Board will be to "make grants to basic, applied, translational or other research and development activities that will advance scientific discoveries in fields related to stem cell biology (emphasis added)." 

 

Grants will be for one or two years. No single grant may be for more than 15 percent of the total funds available in any one year, and no single institution may receive more than 25 percent of the available funds in any one year.  The Funding Committee will provide for an "independent scientific peer review committee" composed of expert scientists, set standards and scoring criteria, and solicit and accept proposals.  It will also be empowered, in the selection of proposals for funding, to give "due consideration to the amount of non-public funds contributed by the project sponsor (emphasis added)," but such contributions are defined very liberally --that is, they can include such categories as in-kind contributions and federal grants.  This matching opportunity is certainly a far cry from the draconian 3:1 ratio of local-sponsor funds to State funds that was on the table until the final hours of negotiation. In addition, nonpublic funds will only be considered a factor in funding decisions "when reviewing applications of equivalent merit as determined by the independent scientific peer review committee." In other words, scientific excellence trumps all other considerations, which was the goal of New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research from the beginning.

 

The Ethics Committee also gets 12 members plus the Heath Commissioner, with six members appointed directly by the Governor and six by the Governor upon nomination by legislative leaders.

 

The proposed legislation incorporates virtually all of the recommendations made by New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research. This is a victory for the people of New York State. It is a victory for hope, healing and compassion in the face of strong opposition and everyone involved over the years deserves congratulations. Thank you for all your efforts on behalf of stem cell research.