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Why State Funding of Research is Important

State Funding Is Necessary to Fill the Gap Created By Federal Restrictions

Public funding of basic medical research has a long, successful history in the United States. Tax dollar support is critical because:

• Basic research is costly.
• Basic research may not produce profitable drugs or therapies.
• Private sector is reluctant to invest in uncertain technologies.

Without public funding, medical advances in life-saving therapies of blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and recombinant DNA would NOT have occurred.

The Bush administration seriously limited the use of federal tax dollars to support embryonic stem cell research.

President Bush's August 9, 2001 stem cell policy alarmingly obstructs research because:

• Research is restricted to 2001 cell lines.
• Only 12 of the 60 cell lines are usable.
• Cell lines are unusable for humans because of animal contaminants.
• Restrictions dissuade scientists and graduate students from entering this field.
• Progress in disease understanding, cures, and therapies is slowed.

In 2004, stem cell research supporters directed their efforts from federally-funded to state-funded research.

Wisconsin is a leading pioneer in stem cell research:

• University of Wisconsin scientist, James Thomson, isolated and cultured human embryonic stem cells.
• UW patents are licensed to biotech companies.
• UW researchers continue to make significant breakthroughs
• Governor Doyle marked $375 million to Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, the new UW interdisciplinary research facility.

Today's Investment Will Pay Dividends Later

Long-term care and treatment of chronic diseases is costly.

• Diabetics develop kidney failure and require expensive, frequent dialysis.
• Alzheimer's and stroke patients may require nursing home admissions.

Treating the symptoms, effects, and conditions of diseases raises the cost of health care.

When stem cell research uncovers the cause, cures, therapies, and preventative strategies of diseases, health care costs will significantly shrink.

A cut of simply 1%, will pay for itself, and reduce health care costs by tens of billions of dollars in future decades.

Investing In Research Will Create Jobs and Revenue

Wisconsin must continue as a leader in stem cell research:

• Patent royalties funds UW research.
• World-class scientists and facilities attract new businesses.
• New jobs grow new tax revenues.

Several states are already competing to become stem cell research dynamos. UW licenses its federally-allowed cell lines to other states and countries. This slim edge is what pushes Wisconsin to the lead.

• California passed Proposition 71, a public initiative to funnel $3 billion in state funding to support stem cell research.
• Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are not far behind.

Stem Cell Research Has Broad Based Public Support

Widespread support for use of embryonic stem cells in research exists. The August 2004 poll by the Pew Research Center and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found:

• 52% of those surveyed said that it was important to conduct stem cell research.
• The level of support for stem cell research was increasing among all groups, whether considered by age, education, income, race, religion, or political outlook.

A 2005 poll conducted by Cures for Tomorrow, a pro-stem cell organization in Wisconsin, showed that of 500 polled Wisconsinites:

• 69% support stem-cell research,
• 59% want more state funding, and
• 41% strongly support continued research.
  

Prestigious organizations supporting stem cell research include:

• American Medical Association,
• American Association for the Advancement of Science,
• American Diabetes Association,
• Association of American Medical Colleges,
• National Health Council,
• The National Coalition for Cancer Research, and
• Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

info@wistemcellnow.org

© 2005 Wisconsin Stem Cell Now, Inc.