NYT: NJ Faces Tough Competition for Stem Cell Scientists (CA in forefront)

[DeepModem Mom]

New Jersey Faces Tough Competition for Stem Cell Scientists
By LAURA MANSNERUS

Published: January 17, 2005


TRENTON, Jan. 14 - While the federal government has sharply limited research on embryonic stem cells, casting it as a moral issue, governors around the country are moving aggressively to push the research forward, spending millions, seeking to lure top scientists to their states and planning state-of-the-art research facilities.

Last fall, California stepped to the forefront when voters there agreed to borrow $3 billion over 10 years to finance stem cell research. And in New Jersey last week, Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey entered what he called "the race for the cure" by proposing to spend $380 million on research. New Jersey's planned spending gives the state a lock on second place in the stem cell research race, behind California, but Mr. Codey warned it might not last.

"We have to act aggressively," he said, "because other states like Wisconsin and Illinois are right behind us."

In fact, everyone is chasing California in the competition for talent, money and recognition.

"There are more dollars now going into the field than there would be if President Bush in 2001 had thrown the gates wide open," said Daniel Perry, the president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, which according to its Web site includes some 90 research universities and medical advocacy groups, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. "What he sought to starve has turned out to be very well fed."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/17/nyregion/17cell.html