Proposition 71, The California Stem Cell Research
and Cures Initiative: A Research Agenda

Authors

Sepideh Modrek, BA
Jenny Liu, BA
Mistique Felton, MPH
Richard Scheffler, PhD
James F. Ross, MBA

Executive Summary

Since August 9, 2001, when President Bush decided to limit federal funds for human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research, much debate has surfaced about the future of this type of research. In California, Proposition 71, The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, was passed in November 2005 in response to the federal funding limitations. This bond initiative (1) established the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a California surrogate for National Institute of Health, to regulate stem cell research and funding (2) appropriated $3 billion from the General Fund to pay for bonds to finance this endeavor and (3) established a constitutional right to conduct stem cell research.

To date, lawsuits have stalled the funding of Proposition 71. Meanwhile, other states have initiated their own stem cell and HESC research projects and bipartisan Congressional support for HESC research has increased. These events may have substantially decreased California's "first-mover" advantage in HESC research and has called into question the economic returns of this bond measure. Many argue that this initiative will not pay for itself as its proponents claimed it would. Diverse groups who support HESC research have questioned the details of this policy experiment, focusing on ethical and oversight questions. Even when/if therapies are developed; the impact on California's healthcare system and consumers is uncertain and needs careful investigation.