LA Times: Stem Cell Agency Conflict-of-Interest Response Only a Bandage

Posted: February 28, 2013 at 2:02 pm

The Los Angeles Times yesterday modestly praised the $3 billion California stem cell agency for
taking some limited steps to deal with its longstanding conflict of
interest issues.

But the newspaper, which has the largest circulation in the state, said that was more was
needed if the agency plans to have a life after 2017, when funds for
new awards run out.
The Times editorial said,

“After years of resisting all
criticisms of its operations, the California Institute for
Regenerative Medicine is finally listening — a little.“

The editorial continued,

“Yet the agency isn't exactly
embracing an ethical overhaul. It's doing just enough to address the
criticisms without triggering any oversight from the Legislature. The
modifications are more a bandage than a cure. Like a bandage, they
will probably do, but only for a limited time.”

The board plans to have 13 board
members with ties to recipient institutions voluntarily refrain from
voting on any grants that come before the board, not just the ones to
their institutions.
The Times said December's blue-ribbon
report from the Institute of Medicine identified the make-up of the
board as the “single biggest problem” at the agency. The
editorial cited figures prepared by the California Stem Cell Report
that show that about 90 percent of the $1.8 billion that the board
has awarded has gone to institutions linked to current or past
members of the board. Fifteen out of the 29 current board members
have ties to recipient institutions.
The editorial concluded,

“If the stem cell institute is just a
temporary agency that will last until its public funding runs out —
it plans to give its last grants with existing funds in 2017 — its
planned reforms will probably be enough. But if the institute wants
to be a permanent part of the research landscape — and possibly ask
for more public funding — voluntary recusals are an inadequate
patch. The agency's leaders should admit that the original setup was
flawed and seek a true fix. “

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/4TPMCEI6hDg/la-times-stem-cell-agency-conflict-of.html

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