California Stem Cell Research Is Upheld by Appeals Court

[Doondoo]

California’s stem cell research program is legal, a state appeals court ruled Monday in a decision that could hasten the day when the state’s $3 billion research effort can get fully under way.

The San Francisco-based court upheld a decision made by a lower court last spring that found that the program did not violate laws concerning state spending, the structure of ballot initiatives or rules regarding conflicts of interest.

The legal challenge had been brought by groups that oppose abortion, research with human embryonic stem cells or taxes.

Because of the uncertainty over the litigation, the state has not been able to issue any of the $3 billion in bonds to pay for research. Earlier this month, however, the program awarded its first research grants — nearly $45 million to California-based universities and research institutes — using money lent by the state government and philanthropists.

Robert N. Klein, chairman of the board overseeing the stem cell program, hailed the court’s decision as “one huge step for California.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/us/27stem.html

[EST]

1. A significant victory, in spite of the reality that it is one skirmish

in a vast ongoing battle.

[xchrom]

2. that money is very important to the bay area.

there is a corridor here in sf and in the east bay that will relly be able to take off with these funds.

and of course the other wonderful thing is the proximity to silicon valley -- stem cell research will be able to hook up with the latest hi-tech has to offer the bio-med field.