Wednesday, March 29, 2006

CIRM's Coffers Not Looking So Bare

It is not exactly a case of wheelbarrows of cash rolling in the doors of the California stem cell agency agency.

But next week, the creaky processes of California's governmental bureaucracy will start moving to put money in a pipeline to CIRM.

The main event is a meeting of the Finance Committee of CIRM. It is scheduled to convene next Tuesday afternoon in Sacramento to consider issuing notes to fund CIRM. Stem cell chairman Robert Klein has already said he has commitments for $50 million in what he calls bridge financing. It comes in the form of state bond anticipation notes that will not be repaid if the state loses the lawsuit against the agency. Klein has targeted philanthropic organizations as purchasers of the notes.

Also next Thursday, the Oversight Committee is expected to approve a new policy that will give donors naming rights if their gifts are "substantial." Klein has indicated that he has found a significant interest in donations if naming rights accompany them.

Here are some key features of the proposed policy as it will be heard Thursday before the Governance Subcommittee of CIRM.

"No naming will be considered without a gift of substantial value to CIRM and its programs.

"A gift that requires an initial and/or on-going expenditure will not be considered if the total estimated expenditures will likely equal or exceed the value of the gift.

"No gift will be accepted from an institution, entity, or individual that has applied for CIRM funding or that intends to apply for CIRM funding, except for gifts of the use of government or nonprofit-owned facilities for ICOC, working group, or scientific meetings.

"No gift will be accepted from a biotechnology company that devotes five percent or more of its annual budget to stem cell research."

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