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Nature Reports on Lee Hood Conflict Case
Posted: May 26, 2013 at 3:12 am
The journal Nature and genomeweb.com
today picked up the story from the California Stem Cell Report about
the conflict of interest case at the California stem cell agency involving renown scientist Lee Hood of
Seattle, Wash.
Science news aggregators on the
Internet also relayed various versions of the story. The facts were
first reported on this blog yesterday. The matter involved a $24
million application for a genome project involving Irv Weissman of
Stanford. Hood was one of the reviewers in the round. Hood and
Weissman are longtime friends and own property together in Montana.
They have also have a number of professional relationships.
Internet also relayed various versions of the story. The facts were
first reported on this blog yesterday. The matter involved a $24
million application for a genome project involving Irv Weissman of
Stanford. Hood was one of the reviewers in the round. Hood and
Weissman are longtime friends and own property together in Montana.
They have also have a number of professional relationships.
In piece by Ewen Callaway, Nature
additionally referred to ongoing conflict of interest issues at the agency,
including the findings of an Institute of Medicine study. Harold Shapiro, head of the study, said the agency directors make "proposals to themselves, essentially, regarding what should be funded. They cannot exert independent oversight."
additionally referred to ongoing conflict of interest issues at the agency,
including the findings of an Institute of Medicine study. Harold Shapiro, head of the study, said the agency directors make "proposals to themselves, essentially, regarding what should be funded. They cannot exert independent oversight."
The genomeweb item was also brief and
did not mention the IOM study.
did not mention the IOM study.
Posted in Stem Cells, Stem Cell Therapy
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Grant Reviewer Conflict in $40 Million Round at California Stem Cell Agency
Posted: May 26, 2013 at 3:12 am
Internationally renown scientist Lee
Hood, winner of a National Medal of Science, violated the conflict of
interest policies of the California stem cell agency earlier this
year when he was involved in reviewing applications in a $40 million round to create genomics centers in California.
 |
| Lee Hood Institute of Systems Biology photo |
The agency quietly disclosed the
February violation in letters dated April 2 to the leadership of the
California Legislature. The letter (full text below)
said that Hood “agreed that there was a conflict of interest that
he had overlooked.”
February violation in letters dated April 2 to the leadership of the
California Legislature. The letter (full text below)
said that Hood “agreed that there was a conflict of interest that
he had overlooked.”
The conflict of interest involved a $24
million application that included participation by another eminent
scientist, Irv Weissman of Stanford University, and funding for facilities at
Stanford.
million application that included participation by another eminent
scientist, Irv Weissman of Stanford University, and funding for facilities at
Stanford.
Hood owns property jointly with
Weissman in Montana. In 2008, San Francisco Magazine, in a well-reported piece on the ballot measure that created the stem cell
agency, described the property as a ranch and Hood as Weissman's
“good buddy.” Hood has co-authored research papers with
Weissman. Both are on the scientific advisory board of Cellerant
Therapeutics, Inc., of San Carlos, Ca., a firm co-founded by
Weissman. Hood's nonprofit firm, Institute for Systems Biology in
Seattle, lists Stanford as a partner in the genetics of aging in humans. At Stanford, Weissman is director of the Institute
for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, whose research
involves aging. Weissman also serves on the Hood's institute's scientific advisory board.
Weissman in Montana. In 2008, San Francisco Magazine, in a well-reported piece on the ballot measure that created the stem cell
agency, described the property as a ranch and Hood as Weissman's
“good buddy.” Hood has co-authored research papers with
Weissman. Both are on the scientific advisory board of Cellerant
Therapeutics, Inc., of San Carlos, Ca., a firm co-founded by
Weissman. Hood's nonprofit firm, Institute for Systems Biology in
Seattle, lists Stanford as a partner in the genetics of aging in humans. At Stanford, Weissman is director of the Institute
for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, whose research
involves aging. Weissman also serves on the Hood's institute's scientific advisory board.
Hood has not responded to an inquiry
yesterday by the California Stem Cell Report for his perspective on
the conflict of interest matter.
yesterday by the California Stem Cell Report for his perspective on
the conflict of interest matter.
The conflict was not discovered by the
agency during the review. It was raised by another reviewer at the
end of the review, which, for the first time in CIRM history, failed
to conclude with a decision supporting any of the proposals.
Reviewers' comments have been sent back to applicants with another
review scheduled for November. The agency said Hood will not take
part in that session.
agency during the review. It was raised by another reviewer at the
end of the review, which, for the first time in CIRM history, failed
to conclude with a decision supporting any of the proposals.
Reviewers' comments have been sent back to applicants with another
review scheduled for November. The agency said Hood will not take
part in that session.
CIRM spokesman Kevin McCormack said
today that Hood's conflict was “clearly a case of a new reviewer
making an innocent error.” McCormack said it was not a violation of
the state's conflict of interest law. The agency's conflict policies
go beyond economic issues and deal with personal and professional
conflicts.
today that Hood's conflict was “clearly a case of a new reviewer
making an innocent error.” McCormack said it was not a violation of
the state's conflict of interest law. The agency's conflict policies
go beyond economic issues and deal with personal and professional
conflicts.
The agency's letter to the state legislative leadership said,
“Dr. Hood had not previously
participated in a meeting of the GWG(grant review group), and as a
result, he was not familiar with CIRM’s conflict of interest
policy, particularly the policy’s inclusion of 'personal' conflicts of interest. Thus, when he completed the conflict of
interest form for the Genomics Awards review, he inadvertently
neglected to indicate that he had a personal relationship with an
investigator who was involved in one component of a joint application
submitted by two institutions. Dr. Hood and the investigator are
close personal friends and their families own vacation property
together. Because of his personal relationship with the
investigator, Dr. Hood had a conflict of interest with respect to the
joint application under CIRM’s conflict of interest policies.”
The agency's letter said that Weissman would have received $11,000 over five years under the terms of the application, but that it also involved "creation of a data center at one institution and three research projects that would be undertaken at (Weissman's) institution (Stanford).
The California Stem Cell Report asked the agency about the involvement of CIRM President Alan Trounson, who has
been a guest at the Montana ranch, and whether he recruited Hood as a
reviewer. Last year, Trounson excused himself from participating in
public discussion of another application involving Weissman.
been a guest at the Montana ranch, and whether he recruited Hood as a
reviewer. Last year, Trounson excused himself from participating in
public discussion of another application involving Weissman.
McCormack said,
“Alan helps recruit many reviewers,
including in this case Dr. Hood, but he is not involved in assigning
reviewers to individual applications.”
The conflict of interest involving Hood
was easily detectable in routine searches on the Internet, including
a Google search on the search term “lee hood irv weissman.” The first
two entries in that search yesterday turned up serious red flags.
was easily detectable in routine searches on the Internet, including
a Google search on the search term “lee hood irv weissman.” The first
two entries in that search yesterday turned up serious red flags.
Asked whether the agency performed “any
sort of serious examination” of the confidential statements of
interests filed by reviewers prior to review sessions, McCormack said,
sort of serious examination” of the confidential statements of
interests filed by reviewers prior to review sessions, McCormack said,
“Yes, we do a serious examination of
statements of interest from all our reviewers. However, this conflict
was not identified by the reviewer either in the financial disclosure
statement or identified in the conflict of interest list. Normally we
do not check Google for all possible combinations of 15 GWG reviewers
times about 200 individuals listed in these applications. That would
be about 3000 independent Google searches to identify a possible
conflict.”
The agency's legislative letter said
that it plans to “amend its regulations to add greater clarity in
an effort to prevent future conflicts from arising and to augment its
efforts to educate reviewers, particularly new reviewers.”
that it plans to “amend its regulations to add greater clarity in
an effort to prevent future conflicts from arising and to augment its
efforts to educate reviewers, particularly new reviewers.”
Our take?
This is the latest in a series of
questionable activities involving the stem cell agency, which is
trying to come up with a plan to sustain itself after its state
funding runs out in 2017(see here, here and here). The agency is
giving more-than-serious consideration to an effort to raise funds
from the private sector, which can lead to new and more difficult
ethical considerations than a state-funded agency would normally face.
questionable activities involving the stem cell agency, which is
trying to come up with a plan to sustain itself after its state
funding runs out in 2017(see here, here and here). The agency is
giving more-than-serious consideration to an effort to raise funds
from the private sector, which can lead to new and more difficult
ethical considerations than a state-funded agency would normally face.
What these questionable activities
demonstrate is that the $3 billion agency needs to give much more
thought, to put it mildly, to its policies ranging from conflicts of
interest to incompatible employee/director activities to the conduct
of top management in providing special treatment for donors.
demonstrate is that the $3 billion agency needs to give much more
thought, to put it mildly, to its policies ranging from conflicts of
interest to incompatible employee/director activities to the conduct
of top management in providing special treatment for donors.
It also is clear that the statements of
interests of reviewers are not examined closely for their accuracy by
CIRM staff and attorneys. McCormack's remarks clearly indicate that
the agency does not think it has time to be sure that no conflicts
exist among its plethora of reviewers. That is precisely the reason
reviewers' statements of interests – economic, professional and
personal – should be made public rather than kept under wraps
by CIRM. Then, interested parties, presumably mainly applicants, can
check a panel of reviewers, if they wish, for conflicts in a
particular round. Obviously, the agency can and should withhold the
names of reviewers examining a specific application – the release
of the names on the panel in a given review session is sufficient.
interests of reviewers are not examined closely for their accuracy by
CIRM staff and attorneys. McCormack's remarks clearly indicate that
the agency does not think it has time to be sure that no conflicts
exist among its plethora of reviewers. That is precisely the reason
reviewers' statements of interests – economic, professional and
personal – should be made public rather than kept under wraps
by CIRM. Then, interested parties, presumably mainly applicants, can
check a panel of reviewers, if they wish, for conflicts in a
particular round. Obviously, the agency can and should withhold the
names of reviewers examining a specific application – the release
of the names on the panel in a given review session is sufficient.
Tomorrow the CIRM governing board's
evaluation subcommittee meets privately to discuss Alan Trounson's
performance. It appears to be the second part of an evaluation
process that began last October. Trounson's involvement with Weissman
and Hood -- and his actions in connection with a $21,630 gift from a member of the public, albeit a not-so-ordinary member of the public
-- should also be on the evaluation subcommittee agenda.
evaluation subcommittee meets privately to discuss Alan Trounson's
performance. It appears to be the second part of an evaluation
process that began last October. Trounson's involvement with Weissman
and Hood -- and his actions in connection with a $21,630 gift from a member of the public, albeit a not-so-ordinary member of the public
-- should also be on the evaluation subcommittee agenda.
Posted in Stem Cells, Stem Cell Therapy
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Text of CIRM Comments on Lee Hood Questions
Posted: May 26, 2013 at 3:12 am
Here is the full text of the statement
today by Kevin McCormack, senior director for public communications
at the California stem cell agency, in connection with the conflict
of interest issue involving Lee Hood, president of Institute for
Systems Biology of Seattle, Wash. See here for a story on the matter.
McCormack's comments came in response
to the following questions from the California Stem Cell Report.
to the following questions from the California Stem Cell Report.
“Did (CIRM President Alan) Trounson
recruit Hood to serve on the grants working group?
“Does CIRM perform any sort of
serious examination of the statements of interests of its scientific
reviewers prior to specific review sessions. The conflict involving
Weissman and Hood was easily detected by a Google search. The first
two entries on the search term "lee hood irv weissman"
raise serious red flags. Additionally, I imagine it is more than
common knowledge among many in the scientific community that
these two scientists are longtime friends.”
Here is McCormack's reply,
“Alan helps recruit many reviewers,
including in this case Dr. Hood, but he is not involved in assigning
reviewers to individual applications. Furthermore he expects all
reviewers to declare whatever conflicts they have.
“Yes, we do a serious examination of
statements of interest from all our reviewers. However, this conflict
was not identified by the reviewer either in the financial disclosure
statement or identified in the conflict of interest list. Normally we
do not check Google for all possible combinations of 15 GWG reviewers
times about 200 individuals listed in these applications. That would
be about 3000 independent Google searches to identify a possible
conflict. While this relationship may be known to some it certainly
was not known to the CIRM staff who checked the conflicts. If it had
been they would have raised it before the meeting.“It's also important to point out
that Dr. Hood was a new member of this review panel and was not
familiar with our conflict of interest rules. This was clearly a case
of a new reviewer making an innocent error.“Finally, CIRM’s rules are stricter
than state law, and this would not have been a conflict under
California conflict of interest law.”
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/1ndmVIt2OlQ/text-of-cirm-comments-on-lee-hood.html
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Multimillion Dollar Carrots for Stem Cell Research in California
Posted: May 23, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Directors of the California stem cell
agency approved an $80 million business-friendly plan that will
dangle multimillion dollar carrots before biotech firms in an effort
to push therapies into the marketplace.
The upfront payment effort will allow
CIRM to take part in early stage clinical trials at no risk and could
generate a list of achievements that will be useful in creating
support for fresh funding after CIRM's money runs out in 2017.
CIRM to take part in early stage clinical trials at no risk and could
generate a list of achievements that will be useful in creating
support for fresh funding after CIRM's money runs out in 2017.
The proposal is the first-ever from
CIRM that involves no upfront payments. Instead, recipients will have
to meet agreed-upon criteria to receive either grants or loans.
CIRM that involves no upfront payments. Instead, recipients will have
to meet agreed-upon criteria to receive either grants or loans.
A CIRM staff document said,
“The major development milestone and
success criteria will be mutually agreed upon between CIRM and the
applicant at the beginning of the project(s) and at a minimum will
require completion of a clinical trial that shows some level of
biological activity/clinical efficacy and safety. The advantage to
CIRM of this...is that CIRM funds will only be applied to projects
that are successful.”
The proposal was wrapped into what the
agency calls its strategic partnership plan, which also has a more
conventional aspect, providing loans and grants in advance.
agency calls its strategic partnership plan, which also has a more
conventional aspect, providing loans and grants in advance.
As part of the program, the CIRM board
also today approved a $6.4 million award to Sangamo BioSciences of
Richmond, Ca., to help develop a therapy for
beta-thalassemia. The firm will have to match the amount of the
award.
also today approved a $6.4 million award to Sangamo BioSciences of
Richmond, Ca., to help develop a therapy for
beta-thalassemia. The firm will have to match the amount of the
award.
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California Stem Cell Agency: 5 Percent Budget Increase for Coming Fiscal Year
Posted: May 23, 2013 at 4:27 pm
Directors of the California stem cell
agency today approved a $17.4 million operating budget for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, an increase of 5.1 percent over spending for
the current year.
As usual, the agency tries to portray
its budget as a decrease in spending. Directors were told that it
represented a 3 percent decline from the current year. However, the
comparison is not made to actual spending for this year. Instead, the
staff compares the 2013-14 budget to budget figures proposed last
May, which are now no more than time-worn ephemera.
its budget as a decrease in spending. Directors were told that it
represented a 3 percent decline from the current year. However, the
comparison is not made to actual spending for this year. Instead, the
staff compares the 2013-14 budget to budget figures proposed last
May, which are now no more than time-worn ephemera.
Most of the budget goes for salaries
and benefits ($12.2 million ) with outside contracting running next
($2 million). (See here for details.) The budget projects 59 employees for next year
compared to 57 currently. CIRM staff said the number of employees is expected to remain about
the same until 2017 or so when its workload is projected to diminish.
and benefits ($12.2 million ) with outside contracting running next
($2 million). (See here for details.) The budget projects 59 employees for next year
compared to 57 currently. CIRM staff said the number of employees is expected to remain about
the same until 2017 or so when its workload is projected to diminish.
The agency is expected to run out of
money for new grants in 2017, but it is working on a plan to develop
a combination of private and public funding to continue its work.
money for new grants in 2017, but it is working on a plan to develop
a combination of private and public funding to continue its work.
The spending plan reflects the cost of
overseeing about $1.8 billion in nearly 600 grants and loans plus
developing new research proposals that are likely to be funded in the
next few years. The operational budget is capped by law at 6 percent
of the amount of funds the agency distributes over its lifetime.
overseeing about $1.8 billion in nearly 600 grants and loans plus
developing new research proposals that are likely to be funded in the
next few years. The operational budget is capped by law at 6 percent
of the amount of funds the agency distributes over its lifetime.
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$36 Million Recruitment: Names of Researchers Being Lured to California
Posted: May 23, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Here are the names of the researchers being recruited to California by the California stem cell agency with $36 million in awards. The sixth asked not to be revealed since he/she has yet to tell the current institution and are in
negotiations with their new institution
· Hiromitsu
Nakauchi of the University of Tokyo, who would be moving to Stanford
University
Nakauchi of the University of Tokyo, who would be moving to Stanford
University
· Barry
R. Stripp of Duke moving to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
R. Stripp of Duke moving to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
· Richard
Gregory of Harvard and Children’s Hospital, Boston moving to UC
Santa Cruz
Gregory of Harvard and Children’s Hospital, Boston moving to UC
Santa Cruz
· Eric
Ahrens of Carnegie Mellon moving to UC San Diego
Ahrens of Carnegie Mellon moving to UC San Diego
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/Kbc3TScH6ds/36-million-recruitment-names-of.html
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Stem Cell Agency Approves $36 million to Recruit Six Scientists to California
Posted: May 23, 2013 at 2:34 pm
The California stem cell agency today
awarded $36 million to six scientists to lure them to the Golden
State, in what was the agency's largest-ever recruiting round.
The awards more than doubled the amount
of CIRM has spent on recruitment. Until today, the agency had awarded
only $23.2 million for four awards.
of CIRM has spent on recruitment. Until today, the agency had awarded
only $23.2 million for four awards.
Today's awards ranged from $7.5 million
to $4.8 million. The agency did not immediately identify the recipients. However, testimony at the meeting indicated that two of the institutions involved were UC San Francisco and the Gladstone Institute (the $7.5 million award) and UC Santa Cruz (a $5.4 million award). (The agency later released the list, which can be found here. Here is a link to the CIRM press release.)
to $4.8 million. The agency did not immediately identify the recipients. However, testimony at the meeting indicated that two of the institutions involved were UC San Francisco and the Gladstone Institute (the $7.5 million award) and UC Santa Cruz (a $5.4 million award). (The agency later released the list, which can be found here. Here is a link to the CIRM press release.)
The differences in the size of the awards had to do with the overhead charges that are levied by the institutions at which the scientists would work, CIRM staff said. The "direct costs" of the research for each grant was $4.5 million.
Six applications were considered in the
latest round, including one that was scored at 75 that was rejected by grant reviewers. However, CIRM staff recommended that application, which involved UC San Francisco and Gladstone, be funded. (See here and here.)
latest round, including one that was scored at 75 that was rejected by grant reviewers. However, CIRM staff recommended that application, which involved UC San Francisco and Gladstone, be funded. (See here and here.)
Previous winners of the recruitment awards were Robert Wechsler-Reya, Sanford-Burnham; Dennis Steindler,
The Parkinson's Institute; Andrew McMahon, USC, and Peter Coffey, UC
Santa Barbara.
The Parkinson's Institute; Andrew McMahon, USC, and Peter Coffey, UC
Santa Barbara.
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California Stem Cell Agency to Court Patient Groups This Summer
Posted: May 23, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Jonathan Thomas, chairman of the California stem cell agency, said this morning that he and a team from the agency will begin a round of meetings this summer with patient advocate groups throughout the state.
He said the effort is aimed at keeping the groups up to speed on developments at CIRM. While Thomas did not mention it to the agency's governing board, it is also critical that the agency have strong support from patient advocate groups as it tries to develop new sources of funding, either public or private.
The agency will run out of cash for new grants in 2017 and hopes to have a plan for the future before the board later this year. Its initial assumptions include as much as $200 million in onetime public funding with more cash coming from the private sector.
Currently the agency is funded by state bonds at a cost of about $6 billion, including interest. It spends roughly $300 million a year on grants and loans for research.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/lra474LHezU/california-stem-cell-agency-to-court.html
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LaViv stem cell therapy for acne scars – Video
Posted: May 23, 2013 at 9:42 am
LaViv stem cell therapy for acne scars
Dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Melanie Palm of http://www.artofskinmd.com discusses and demonstrates the use of LaVIV, the first available personalized stem...
By: melaniepalm
See more here:
LaViv stem cell therapy for acne scars - Video
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Stem Cell Therapy Worldwide – Video
Posted: May 23, 2013 at 9:42 am
Stem Cell Therapy Worldwide
http://www.placidway.com/ - Looking for best and affordable stem cell therapy? Placidway offers best and most affordable stem cell therapy with the top docto...
By: placidways #39;s channel
Go here to see the original:
Stem Cell Therapy Worldwide - Video
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