Efforts by ICOC To Develop Guidelines for Stem Cell Research Grants Examined
The Oakland Tribune on Sunday examined efforts by the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to develop guidelines for the distribution of $3 billion in grants for stem cell research over the next decade. ICOC spokesperson Fiona Hutton said that the committee likely will use ethical and medical standards on stem cell research scheduled for release later this month by the National Academy of Sciences to help develop the guidelines.
CIRM last week also hired Arlene Chiu -- associate director of the Office of Research Administration of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, a division of NIH -- as director of scientific programs and review. Interim CIRM President Zach Hall said that the first round of grants issued by the institute likely would fund expanded stem cell biology programs and laboratories at universities, as well as training for students (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 4/10).
The San Francisco Chronicle on Monday profiled ICOC Chair Robert Klein, who "managed to convince everyone who mattered ... that he was the obvious choice to lead" the committee, although he has no scientific or medical expertise. According to the Chronicle, "Klein's mission would seem quixotic were it not, at least so far, succeeding" (Hall, San Francisco Chronicle, 4/11).
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