CGS-authored
A real estate developer who spent $3 million of his own money to get the California stem cell initiative on the state's ballot is now in charge of doling out the $3 billion the program will lavish on stem cell research over the next decade.
The newly inaugurated Institute for Regenerative Medicine's independent citizens oversight committee, or ICOC, voted unanimously to elect Robert Klein, the only nominee, as its chair. The ICOC also elected Dr. Edward Penhoet, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and a founder of Chiron, as the vice-chair over two other candidates.
Some members of the public who attended the meeting were concerned that the committee had just one chair candidate, a non-scientist, to choose from, and urged them to postpone the vote.
But many committee members who are scientists themselves lauded Klein as someone with a passion for the project who has already proven his skill.
"I think it's clear to all of us the extreme degree of responsibility and accountability we have to carry out the work before us," said Dr. Philip Pizzo...
The newly inaugurated Institute for Regenerative Medicine's independent citizens oversight committee, or ICOC, voted unanimously to elect Robert Klein, the only nominee, as its chair. The ICOC also elected Dr. Edward Penhoet, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and a founder of Chiron, as the vice-chair over two other candidates.
Some members of the public who attended the meeting were concerned that the committee had just one chair candidate, a non-scientist, to choose from, and urged them to postpone the vote.
But many committee members who are scientists themselves lauded Klein as someone with a passion for the project who has already proven his skill.
"I think it's clear to all of us the extreme degree of responsibility and accountability we have to carry out the work before us," said Dr. Philip Pizzo...