Donors Pay Stem-Cell Costs in Calif.

State governments and federal agencies have been hindered in their attempts to pay for stem-cell research, but private philanthropists have provided ten of millions of dollars for such research in California, reports The Washington Post.

California voters approved a 10-year, $3-billion bond to support stem-cell research in 2004, but litigation has prevented the distribution of any money. And the Bush administration has prevented the National Institutes of Health from supporting most research on stem cells, especially research involving embryonic stem cells.

Private donors, however, have given $31-million to the California state agency that administers stem-cell grants and an additional $41-million to construct laboratories at various University of California campuses.

Around the country, other donors have also supported stem-cell work, most notably New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who gave $100-million to Johns Hopkins University.

Read The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s coverage of stem cells here.

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