Editorial: A miracle cure for stem cell conflicts

As many readers know, leaders of California's stem cell research institute have steadfastly refused to disclose the stock holdings and consulting relationships of scientists who will be recommending billions in research grants over the next decade.

The official explanation? Institute Chairman Robert Klein II and interim president Zach Hall claim that top scientists will refuse to "volunteer" for the institute's grant review panel (which pays $300 a day) if they are forced to publicly disclose their potential conflicts.


This page has spent weeks examining this claim. Frankly, it is a bunch of malarkey.
Throughout the scientific world, stem cell researchers are increasingly disclosing their corporate research relationships and stock holdings.

Some must do so if they want to serve as faculty on Continuing Medical Education courses sponsored by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and other medical schools.

Others must publicly disclose conflicts when their research is published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association and other prestigious publications.

Consider the recent meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, held in...