State House Democratic Whip Mike Veon and state Reps Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and Babette Josephs, D-Phila., called for a commitment to stem cell research in Pennsylvania – removing any prohibitions against using public money, and creating a dedicated half-billion dollar fund and the formation of a council to oversee that fund.
“Stem-cell research is more than just cutting-edge technology that could be the key to curing disease and injury,” Veon said. “It is also an industry that can provide thousands of high-tech, high-wage jobs in Pennsylvania.
“I believe that the Commonwealth can and should invest in this research, and join with surrounding states when it is to our advantage. If we don’t, we absolutely will see states like California widen the research gap, and lure away our best and brightest jobs and workers. This is a race for progress that we simply cannot afford to lose.”
Veon’s proposal would:
• create a $500 million bond initiative – disbursed at $100 million per year — to be paid back over 30 years to fund research;
• levy a 2 percent tax on medical devices & diagnostic equipment — primarily consisting of everything from single-use products to capital equipment to diagnostics machines – with the money raised used to pay the bond debt;
• examine the possibility of using tobacco settlement money to bolster the fund; and • form the Pennsylvania Stem Cell Research Council – a 15-member panel made up of people from groups representing those with injuries and diseases that could be cured by stem cell research, as well as representatives from medical schools, ethics groups and legislators.
The research council would create groups that would set research standards to avoid duplication, review grant applications, and make recommendations for disbursement of the funds.
The lawmakers are also proposing that Pennsylvania join with New Jersey and Delaware to create an interstate compact and establish a joint stem cell research center. The research council would be able to match designated funding with other states in the compact and would be authorized to put up an additional 5 percent over New Jersey’s funding as a discretionary supplement if it results in new research facilities and job creation in Pennsylvania.
Frankel urged investment all across the state, not just in the southeast region.
“Considering how much innovative research is taking place in Pittsburgh, I want to see major investments in stem cell research in western Pennsylvania,” Frankel said. “We have some of the greatest research and teaching hospitals in the world in our area. We need to do everything possible to keep these facilities and these jobs right here.
“Just this week researchers in Wisconsin announced a breakthrough where stem cells taken from human embryos became motor neurons — an experiment that might one day help scientists repair damaged nervous systems. That is the kind of research we need to support in Pennsylvania.”
The lawmakers noted the need for Pennsylvania to avoid falling behind other states that are aggressively investing in research.
“Almost four years ago, a far-reaching federal ban on funding for stem cell research shut down some of the most promising work to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, AIDS and so many other life-threatening diseases,” Josephs said. “The need to develop new, uncontaminated embryonic stem cell lines is vitally important to continue this promising research.
“The legislation I am proposing again this session would allow researchers to use public funds to generate stem cell lines from embryos, for the purpose of developing new medical treatments. My intent is to authorize research on stem cells from any source. We have heard the cries about the brain drain occurring in Pennsylvania as talented, bright people leave the state. We should encourage leading U.S. stem cell researchers to remain in or move to Pennsylvania to conduct such research.”
