October 28, 2009
California awards grants for research projects in nonembryonic stem cells
by Andrew Pollack
The New York Times
LOS ANGELES -- In a tacit acknowledgment that the promise of human embryonic stem cells is still far in the future, California's stem cell research program on Wednesday awarded grants intended to develop therapies using mainly other, less controversial cells.
The $230 million in grants awarded Wednesday to California universities and companies represent a big step toward moving stem cells from basic research toward application in treating diseases like cancer and AIDS. Grant recipients are supposed to have a therapy ready for initial human testing in four years.
But only 4 of the 14 projects involve embryonic stem cells. The others will use so-called adult stem cells or conventional drugs intended to kill cancer stem cells, which are thought to give rise to tumors.
The grants thus represent a departure from the program's original mission. California voters approved the 10-year, $3 billion effort in 2004 largely to get around restrictions on embryonic stem cell research imposed by the administration of President George W. Bush.
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