STANFORD, Calif. (KCBS) -- While the issue of stem cell research is tied up in the courts, scientists from around the world have their eyes on California's funding for such research. Some have even left prestigious universities such as Harvard for a chance to use some of the $3 billion in state money.
"To have the government come forward with that kind of money, I think adds that much more attractiveness to the research programs at Stanford and other California leading institutions," said Dr. Robert Jackler of Stanford University.
Jackler has recruited several top researchers into his department. His lure is state funding through the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM, which got the chuck of money after voters passed Prop 71 two years ago.
Dr. Stefan Heller relocated to Stanford after working at Harvard off private funding. “You can do so much more with that kind of funding.”
The money is also attractive because it is not subject to many restrictions attached to federal stem cell research dollars.
"It's very difficult to get federal money, and for some experiments we can't even use it," said Heller.
Heller is working to treat deafness and is just one of several leading stem cell researchers who have moved their labs to Stanford recently. Meanwhile, CIRM’s funding issues are still being sorted out by the courts.
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