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Published online 24 September 2008 | Nature 455, 436-437 (2008) | doi:10.1038/455436b

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California institute to help stem-cell biotechs

Loan programme aims to support firms in getting products to the clinic.

Erika Check Hayden

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is launching a loan programme that aims to help private biotechnology companies while providing a funding stream for the institute. The programme is expected to be approved this week by the board that oversees CIRM, although major specifics are still undecided, including the amount of money involved.

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  • Your story implies stem cell research is risky as it pertains to the science, when the greatest risk lies in the pervasive misinformation in play in the public media about embryonic stem cell research, safety and prospects for therapy. If CIRM truly wanted to assist this field, they would sponsor a program of public information in which representatives from Geron, the undisputed leader in this field, and other knowledgeable scientists from Universities like the University of Wisconsin and Harvard are invited to participate.

    • 24 Sep, 2008
    • Posted by: Don Carpenter

  • It seems that a political victory has bring California too much money to spend on stem cells. However, has therapy with transplantation of stem cell really been proved to work for long run in animals? If not what is the hurry to test it in human? I can predict these loans will bring back a confirmation that much of the stem cell therapy is just as effective as the out-fashioned gene therapy. Shi V. Liu (SVL@logibio.com; http://im1.biz)

    • 25 Sep, 2008
    • Posted by: Shi Liu