Prominent critics of California's new stem cell agency have lent their support to a petition filed with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) by Philip Lee, former federal Assistant Secretary for Health, and public interest attorney Charles Halpern. Under California's Administrative Procedures Act, CIRM is required to respond within 30 days.

"With these concerns being expressed by people as prominent as Dr. Lee is in public health, and as Mr. Halpern is in public-interest law, it's a sign that the situation is very serious," said Marcy Darnovsky, associate executive director of the Center for Genetics and Society. "Despite repeated promises of high standards, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine still acts as if it were a private enterprise, rather than a public agency-one that California's citizens have entrusted with a great deal of hope and a large sum of money. CIRM's leadership needs to take concrete steps to make clear that it puts the public's interest above market considerations."

The petition makes specific recommendations regarding conflict of interest standards, compensation and hiring, advisory groups, and grants, and calls on the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (ICOC), CIRM's governing body, to hold hearings on them.

Susan Fogel, coordinator of the Pro-Choice Alliance for Responsible Research, notes, "Under Lee and Halpern's recommendations, which are based on new guidelines at the National Institutes of Health, Edward Penhoet must either place his biotechnology investments in a blind trust or resign from his position on the ICOC. We cannot allow California officials to be held to a lesser standard."

Penhoet is the vice-chair of the ICOC. He is a paid partner at a venture capital firm with a major biotechnology portfolio, sits on the board of three biotechnology corporations, and holds at least $3 million of stock in biotechnology companies.

The critics are also troubled by the initial hiring process at CIRM, and by recent news that ICOC Chair Robert Klein will be involved with continuing fundraising for lobbying purposes.

"Recruiting staff directly from the `Yes on 71' campaign to work at CIRM, without considering other candidates, is not responsible practice for a public agency," notes Jesse Reynolds, program director at the Center for Genetics and Society. "Nor should Robert Klein be getting ready to issue grants as a state official while he's raising more money to lobby Congress about cloning legislation."

Created after supporters spent over $30 million to pass Proposition 71 in November, CIRM will issue $3 billion in grants for embryonic stem cell and other biomedical research. It is governed by a twenty-nine member body, the ICOC. It has shared office space and staff with the `Yes on 71' campaign, Klein's private real estate company, and a stem cell advocacy organization he founded. According to news articles, Klein, now a state official, will be raising private money to repay the `Yes on 71' campaign debts and to lobby Congress on issues related to stem cell research.

The Center for Genetics and Society is a public interest advocacy organization that supports the responsible use and governance of new biotechnologies such as embryonic stem cell research. It was a member of the Pro-Choice Alliance Against Proposition 71.

Pro-Choice Alliance for Responsible Research is a coalition of advocates, scientists, health professionals and academics working to promote responsible research in the fields of genetics and reproduction, while promoting a perspective that promotes abortion rights.

[ read the petition ]