WiCell - an private not-for-profit - is working to fill the gaps in American medical research that exist as a result of restrictive Bush-administration policies.  In a move which WSCN executive director Ed Fallone called “wise and necessary” WiCell is offering stem-cell lines that the federal government won’t.  These include newly discovered reprogrammed skin cells, and, perhaps, embryonic stem cells beyond the twenty-one lines authorized to receive federal funding.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison received federal grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of General Medical science for research on embryonic and adult stem cells.  The $8.9 million dollar grant will fund three projects lead by John Coon, Igor Slukvin, Junying Yu, and stem-cell pioneer James Thompson.  UW is especially lucky to get this grant as the federal government has been very stingy with the allocation of dollars for embryonic stem cell research.  Wisconsin’s position as a stem-cell leader will be further cemented by this grant, but we can’t rely on federal funding, the state has to play its role too.

Voters in Michigan, which currently bans embryonic stem cell research by law, collected and turned in almost 600,000 signatures, enough to place a repeal of the draconian regulations on the November ballot.

While we ought to celebrate the opening of doors to new scientists, our high-tech economy also requires that we stay a step ahead.  If stem-cell research takes-off in neighboring states, finite dollars could flow out of Madison and Milwaukee and into Ann Arbor and East Lansing; that would be a transfer of money that Wisconsin can’t afford.

If Michigan loosens restrictions on stem-cell research, which we must, for the sake of science, hope that they do, our state will need new incentives to attract top scientists and donors.  The best way to do that is to send them a message that here they’ll be supported.  An ambitious investment of state dollars now will help to bring money in over the long run.  Tell your legislators and Governor Doyle that research funding is a priority for you, and ought to be a priority in the next state budget.