California institute fights to continue stem cell research

Written by Nannette Miranda, ABC7

SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, CIRM, is about to enter a crucial stage in stem cell research: going to clinical trials.

The most promising experiments could cure: diabetes, HIV, sickle cell and blindness in the elderly.

"You don't really get to find out whether the potential of the treatment is really going to be effective until you start with patients, the human subjects," CIRM's Alan Trounson said.

CIRM's board is discussing how much to allocate for that trial phase.

Through voter-approved bonds under Proposition 71, it has already given out or spent half of the $3 billion, but despite the medical promise, there's little to show for it beyond basic research and several high-tech labs.

But the agency said the breakthroughs will come over the next few years, way ahead of the rest of the world.

"This would all be happening in California, all driven by this Proposition 71 money," Trounson said.

The bond money is expected to last only several more years.

One option is to ask voters to approve more bonds, something taxpayer groups oppose.

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California institute fights to continue stem cell research