Robert Klein, the new head of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, is showing that he is at least listening to critics and watchdogs of the stem cell research initiative. Since he was installed as the head, several group have loudly complained that the ethical guidelines for the board are not adequately in place and money should not be given out until they are. That is, admittedly, a very smart criticism of the board.
Mr. Klein has promised that no money will be given out until those ethical guidelines are decided. He raised the ire of several groups when he mentioned (before the Board had convened) that he believed they would be starting to hand out money in May. If you know anything about groups that give out grants, this is moving pretty darn fast, especially when you don't have all of the procedures yet in place. Mr. Klein explained that May was not meant to be a hard-and-fast deadline. He likely just figured he wanted to say some date that wasn't absolutely ludicrous but was fast enough that the Board would have to start hopping, as one of the most difficult things about being on any Board is how long it can take for them to even convene.
Heck, if they can meet by May and have those ethical guidelines in place, I'll be pretty impressed with their efforts.
By the way, for those readers in California, there will be an open meeting of the Board Committee for the IRM on Jan. 24. The places, time and agenda for the meeting can be found here.
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