Maryland House Approves Stem Cell Research Legislation, Sends Measure To Governor

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 04 Apr 2006 - 6:00 PDT

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The Maryland House on Wednesday voted 90-48 to approve a bill (SB 144) that would offer as much as $15 million in grants in 2007 to university-based and private researchers working with stem cells, the Washington Post reports (Wagner, Washington Post, 3/30). The bill would establish procedures for reviewing stem cell research projects, which could involve either embryonic or adult stem cells, the Baltimore Sun reports. A 15-member commission -- with two experts in biomedical ethics and religion who would be appointed by the governor -- and a panel of scientists would review the research proposals and determine how to distribute the $15 million. Initially, lawmakers had considered approving $25 million in annual funding, but to win support in the state Senate, members removed that mandate, as well as a provision that would have given priority funding to proposals for embryonic stem cell research (Skalka, Baltimore Sun, 3/30). The House on Monday approved the state's $29.4 billion fiscal year 2007 budget, which includes the $15 million for stem cell research projects (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/29). The state Senate approved the bill earlier this month, and Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) said he plans to sign it. If he does, the funds are expected to go to Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland researchers and to several Maryland biotechnology companies that do research on adult stem cells (Washington Post, 3/30).

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