Imperial Valley News

San Diego, California - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the announcement by University of California, San Diego researchers about a new drug to treat a rare blood disorder that can lead to leukemia.  Stem cell research, funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), led to the discovery of this new treatment.

"Thanks to this innovative research by UC San Diego scientists, California is leading the world in the development of a life-saving therapy to help more than 100,000 Americans.  I am proud of our state's commitment to stem cell research, which delivers the best promise in finding treatments for deadly and debilitating diseases. With continued investments in stem cell research, California scientists are adding new rays of hope for millions of people around the globe."

In 2004, California voters approved Proposition 71 to devote $3 billion to stem cell research and create CIRM.  To date, CIRM has approved research grants totaling almost $260 million.  The California Supreme Court last year upheld a lower court's ruling which frees up the $3 billion in funding from legal challenges.  While this court ruling was pending, Governor Schwarzenegger authorized loans of up to $150 million to keep California on the forefront of stem cell research. 

California's investment in embryonic stem cell research is three times higher than the National Institutes of Health's funding.  Compared internationally, China's Ministry of Science and Technology will put up to $132 million into research over the next five years and the British government put $72.7 million into public funds for stem cell research between 2004 and 2006.