Stem Cell Funding

Government funding for stem cell research has faced a certain amount of restriction determining which types of stem cells could be investigated and where those may be sourced from. It is, however, not true that the US Government does not fund stem cell research or that George W. Bush banned human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research in 2001. A limited number of stem cell lines have been open for research purposes and adult human stem cells, fetal human stem cells, and animal-derived embryonic stem cells have been used in research for many years.

As there are numerous problems with hESCs, the use of them in research is effectively self-limiting with stem cell scientists often more focused on finding answers to questions regarding adult stem cells instead. Having said that, the recent changes in legislation affecting hESC research and the additional funding available may change the research environment in favor of embryonic stem cell research.

NIH Funds Stem Cell Research

The National Institutes of Health in the US has been the largest funder of stem cell research for many years, although the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine was shown to have contributed more to such research recently than the NIH (although much of their spending was actually on new infrastructure and buildings rather than direct research costs). As a proportion of stem cell research funding human embryonic stem cells receive less than a tenth of the NIH’s funding most years with just $88million out of the $938million spent in 2008. Barack Obama lifted some restrictions on stem cell research in 2009 and this means that hESC research is likely to have increased since then. The NIH’s spending on stem cell research and contracts granted can be looked at in detail on their website http://stemcells.nih.gov/research/funding/.

Private and Public Funding of Stem Cell Research

Human embryonic stem cell research has been going on in the US since Bush’s 2001 ban under a different mantle however as individual states have allowed such stem cell research by altering their own constitutions, thereby bypassing the federal block on funding. US states which have done this include Wisconsin, Illinois, and New York state, along with California, a major player in the stem cell industry. Others have put legislation in place to ensure that stem cell research remains legal such as Iowa and Missourri. Several states had banned embryonic stem cell research at state level by 2007, including Michigan, Indiana, Arkansas, North and South Dakota, and Louisiana. Many of these states have introduced new guidance on funding, or are in the process of doing so since Obama’s relaxation of the federal law on stem cell research in addition to the realization that there is considerable financial gain to be had by attracting major biotechnology industry such as has occurred in California.

CIRM Funds Stem Cell Research

The epic battle between the academic pursuit of scientific knowledge and immediate patent rights and development of income streams makes stem cell funding and research an area of some complexity. The CIRM, for example, rolled out a programme of funding for major facilities in mid 2008 resulting in twelve institutions being awarded $271million which was then added to by private donations of around $800million. This funding created numerous construction jobs initially, and has now given rise to new buildings dedicated to stem cell research unencumbered by government funding regulations at Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of Southern Carolina, amongst others.

Overseas Stem Cell Clinic Research

Many individual clinics overseas will also provide funding for stem cell research although this direct link to application, treatment, and a retail product makes a number of people uncomfortable. Charities, such as the Dana and Christopher Reeve Foundation, also provide funds for stem cell research, often connected to specific conditions. Many people remain unengaged by the debate surrounding stem cell funding and governmental involvement although religious leaders and those in the Pro-Life movement can be very vocal regarding such legislation. Interestingly, an ABC News poll found that individual churchgoers did not necessarily follow their religions’ stance on the ethics of stem cell research, perhaps implying that members of a faith react more quickly to current social and political circumstances than the institutions themselves.

Stem Cell Funding Opposition

Opposition to stem cell research has a major effect on funding and may prevent some industry from locating in certain states or those communities which are particularly vehemently opposed. As the federal government starts to open up funding streams it is likely to attract more in the way of long-term research in comparison to the shorter-term, high retail value therapies being pursued and funded by private companies. Hopefully the alterations in funding will be of benefit to the patients putting their faith in stem cells to cure their conditions but only time will tell.