Diabetes Group Backing Stem Cell Research
From Associated Press
By PAUL ELIAS, AP Biotechnolgy Writer
SAN FRANCISCO - To develop human embryonic stem cells in the lab, a researcher needs skill, patience — and a whole lot of money.
That's a problem for the small circle of scientists in the emerging, but controversial field. They say the Bush administration's strict funding restrictions on such research is stifling innovation, while the political fallout from their work makes young scientists leery of joining the field.
That's where the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation comes in.
Though known more for its charity walks than as a driving force behind cutting-edge medical research, the 34-year-old nonprofit has emerged as one of the stem cell field's biggest financial backers and loudest cheerleaders.
In the process, the New York-based organization has unabashedly strayed into a highly charged political territory that many major patient advocacy groups actively avoid for fear of alienating donors. The foundation said it's worth the effort because of the promise stem cells hold.
"We are very determined and we are very aggressive about finding a cure," said Larry Soler, who is in charge of the foundation's government relations in Washington D.C.
In addition to the $3 million in human embryonic stem cell grants it doled out to researchers in last year, the foundation has set aside at least $1 million for what it calls "education" — and what critics call "lobbying" — of state and local lawmakers and voters.
Some $500,000 of that pot was donated to the well-heeled campaign supporting California's Proposition 71, which, if passed in November, would provide $3 billion over 10 years to state stem cell researchers.
The campaign in support of the measure has amassed about $7 million in donations, much of it from Silicon Valley venture capitalists and a $1 million donation from eBay founder and billionaire Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pamela.
Juvenile diabetes foundation board member Robert Klein II, a California real estate investor, also has contributed to or loaned the campaign more then $1 million. Like Klein, many of the campaign's top funders have children with juvenile diabetes.
Though many patients' groups have endorsed the measure, the foundation is the only major medical foundation financially backing the California campaign, which promises to attack myriad diseases in novel ways.
Such nonprofit campaign support of issues-oriented elections is legal, but rare.
"We don't get involved in electioneering," said Maggie Goldberg of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which endorsed Proposition 71. "We don't have the budget and we're bipartisan."
Proposition 71 critics, meanwhile, argue that the foundation strays from its core mission to fund science when it involves itself financially in elections.
"It's unfortunate that they are putting so much of their donors' money into lobbying in order to get more government money involved in their cause," said Daniel McConchie, a spokesman for the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, based in suburban Chicago. The center is a Christian nonprofit that opposes stem cell research.
The foundation is unapologetic to the point of defiance.
That's because its leadership and many of its members believe that top human embryonic stem cell researchers are getting close to a diabetes-defeating breakthrough.
"We consider ourselves the leaders in human embryonic stem cell research and we want to be everywhere it is," said foundation chief executive Peter Van Etten. "We raise money for diabetes research and this is very much in keeping with that."
Embryonic stem cells are master cells created in the first days after conception and are the building blocks of the human body. Researchers believe they can train stem cells to grow into replacement tissue to treat a wide range of diseases. Critics such as the Roman Catholic Church oppose the technology because embryos are destroyed during research.
The foundation's stem cell funding is a drop in the bucket compared to its annual research expenditures of $85 million, but a significant amount for a field largely still dependent on federal support.
The National Institutes of Health (news - web sites) provided $24.8 million in grants last year, a record amount and a 132 percent increase from the previous year.
Van Etten conceded the campaign contribution in California was a first for the foundation, which initially concentrated its lobbying efforts on the federal level.
"We did not foresee this," Van Etten said. "We saw this almost entirely as a federal effort and were totally focused to get federal funds for the research."
But as the Bush administration remains adamant it will not fund any stem cell work involving new embryos, the foundation has turned some of its attention to state efforts.
It will also spend $16 million over the next four years, a promise former First Lady Nancy Reagan is helping the foundation keep. She publicly supported the research during a $3 million Beverly Hills fund-raiser for the foundation.
All proceeds from that event were dedicated to supporting stem cell research.
By PAUL ELIAS, AP Biotechnolgy Writer
SAN FRANCISCO - To develop human embryonic stem cells in the lab, a researcher needs skill, patience — and a whole lot of money.
That's a problem for the small circle of scientists in the emerging, but controversial field. They say the Bush administration's strict funding restrictions on such research is stifling innovation, while the political fallout from their work makes young scientists leery of joining the field.
That's where the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation comes in.
Though known more for its charity walks than as a driving force behind cutting-edge medical research, the 34-year-old nonprofit has emerged as one of the stem cell field's biggest financial backers and loudest cheerleaders.
In the process, the New York-based organization has unabashedly strayed into a highly charged political territory that many major patient advocacy groups actively avoid for fear of alienating donors. The foundation said it's worth the effort because of the promise stem cells hold.
"We are very determined and we are very aggressive about finding a cure," said Larry Soler, who is in charge of the foundation's government relations in Washington D.C.
In addition to the $3 million in human embryonic stem cell grants it doled out to researchers in last year, the foundation has set aside at least $1 million for what it calls "education" — and what critics call "lobbying" — of state and local lawmakers and voters.
Some $500,000 of that pot was donated to the well-heeled campaign supporting California's Proposition 71, which, if passed in November, would provide $3 billion over 10 years to state stem cell researchers.
The campaign in support of the measure has amassed about $7 million in donations, much of it from Silicon Valley venture capitalists and a $1 million donation from eBay founder and billionaire Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pamela.
Juvenile diabetes foundation board member Robert Klein II, a California real estate investor, also has contributed to or loaned the campaign more then $1 million. Like Klein, many of the campaign's top funders have children with juvenile diabetes.
Though many patients' groups have endorsed the measure, the foundation is the only major medical foundation financially backing the California campaign, which promises to attack myriad diseases in novel ways.
Such nonprofit campaign support of issues-oriented elections is legal, but rare.
"We don't get involved in electioneering," said Maggie Goldberg of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which endorsed Proposition 71. "We don't have the budget and we're bipartisan."
Proposition 71 critics, meanwhile, argue that the foundation strays from its core mission to fund science when it involves itself financially in elections.
"It's unfortunate that they are putting so much of their donors' money into lobbying in order to get more government money involved in their cause," said Daniel McConchie, a spokesman for the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, based in suburban Chicago. The center is a Christian nonprofit that opposes stem cell research.
The foundation is unapologetic to the point of defiance.
That's because its leadership and many of its members believe that top human embryonic stem cell researchers are getting close to a diabetes-defeating breakthrough.
"We consider ourselves the leaders in human embryonic stem cell research and we want to be everywhere it is," said foundation chief executive Peter Van Etten. "We raise money for diabetes research and this is very much in keeping with that."
Embryonic stem cells are master cells created in the first days after conception and are the building blocks of the human body. Researchers believe they can train stem cells to grow into replacement tissue to treat a wide range of diseases. Critics such as the Roman Catholic Church oppose the technology because embryos are destroyed during research.
The foundation's stem cell funding is a drop in the bucket compared to its annual research expenditures of $85 million, but a significant amount for a field largely still dependent on federal support.
The National Institutes of Health (news - web sites) provided $24.8 million in grants last year, a record amount and a 132 percent increase from the previous year.
Van Etten conceded the campaign contribution in California was a first for the foundation, which initially concentrated its lobbying efforts on the federal level.
"We did not foresee this," Van Etten said. "We saw this almost entirely as a federal effort and were totally focused to get federal funds for the research."
But as the Bush administration remains adamant it will not fund any stem cell work involving new embryos, the foundation has turned some of its attention to state efforts.
It will also spend $16 million over the next four years, a promise former First Lady Nancy Reagan is helping the foundation keep. She publicly supported the research during a $3 million Beverly Hills fund-raiser for the foundation.
All proceeds from that event were dedicated to supporting stem cell research.
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