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In their letter the
governor and comptroller wrote: "Staying on the cutting edge of stem
cell research is critical to developing the cures of tomorrow. Here
in Illinois, we're advancing medical science by providing resources
that will help stem cell researchers continue their groundbreaking
work. Since the federal government has chosen to stall the medical
advancements that will come with stem cell research, we believe it
is up to the states to take action. Several states have chosen to
suppress stem cell research, and other states have seen their
programs held up in the partisan legislative process. Scientists in
Missouri, for instance, have been forced to halt all recruiting and
funding efforts for the Stowers Institute as the issue is debated.
By making this new public funding available here, Illinois has
become one of the nation's leaders in providing resources for stem
cell research. We encourage you to explore the possibility of moving
to Illinois and leveraging our great research institutions, where
many of your colleagues have found the freedom to explore the
promise of stem cell research and its potential application for many
of society's most debilitating diseases."
The governor and comptroller sent letters to doctors and
researchers across Missouri -- including those at the Stowers
Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, The Academy of
Science for St. Louis, Kansas City University of Medicine and
Biosciences, the Midwest Research Institute, the University of
Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and St. Luke's Health
System.
"By reaching out to scientists across the country, Illinois is
proving that it is serious about becoming a national center for stem
cell research," Hynes said. "While other states are stalling and
blocking, we have the funding committed and the infrastructure in
place to make Illinois a very attractive place in which to conduct
this important research."
In July, the governor signed an executive order directing the
Illinois Department of Public Health to create a program that will
award $10 million in grants to medical research facilities for the
development of treatments and cures. The governor estimated that the
program, named the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, will be
up and running by the end of the year.
With the governor's order, Illinois became one of the nation's
leaders in providing public funding for stem cell research.
Proposals to fund this cutting-edge medical research have stalled in
Massachusetts, Maryland and Missouri; but Illinois joins New Jersey,
California and Connecticut in providing funding for stem cell
research.
Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into many
different types of healthy new cells in the body. As described by
the National Institutes of Health, they act like an internal repair
system for the body. Stem cells can divide to replenish other cells
for as long as the body is alive. When a stem cell divides, each new
cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become
another type of cell, like a muscle cell, a red blood cell or a
brain cell.
Studying stem cells allows doctors to try to analyze how cells
transform into other cells. Many of the most serious illnesses or
birth defects are caused by problems in this process. So,
understanding the process better may help doctors discover how to
prevent, treat or cure illnesses and conditions.
A potential way to use stem cells is to make new cells or tissues
for medical therapies. Currently, donated organs and tissues are
used to replace those that are diseased or destroyed. But, there are
far more people who need organ transplants than there are organs
available. Some stem cells offer the possibility of making
replacement cells and tissues to treat various diseases and
conditions, including Alzheimer's, spinal cord injury, stroke,
burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis.
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 The governor's executive order dictated that the Illinois
Regenerative Medicine Institute program will provide funding for
stem cell research that involves adult, cord blood and embryonic
stem cells. Medical and scientific accountability standards and
rules will generally be consistent with those issued by the National
Academies of Sciences and the National Institutes of Health, and the
Department of Public Health will issue an annual report that details
the operation of the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute.
The executive order also mandated that no funding will be
authorized for research involving human cloning, nor will funding be
awarded to anyone who purchases or sells embryonic or fetal tissue
for research purposes, and time limits will be set for extracting
cells from blastocysts.
Text of letter:
Dear
___________________:
Staying on the
cutting edge of stem cell research is critical to developing the
cures of tomorrow. Here in Illinois, we're advancing medical science
by providing resources that will help stem-cell researchers continue
their groundbreaking work. Last month, we announced that Illinois
will award $10 million in grants to stem cell research facilities
for the development of treatments and cures. Here in Illinois, we
are very committed to stem cell research. As scientists specializing
in the field, we hope you will consider continuing your work here in
Illinois.
Our new program,
which we've called the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute (IRMI),
will be up and running by the end of this year. The $10 million in
public funding that we've allocated for research grants makes
Illinois the first state in the Midwest, and only the fourth state
in the nation, to commit public funds to the life-saving work of
stem cell research. The IRMI program will provide funding for stem
cell research that involves adult, cord blood and embryonic stem
cells. Medical and scientific accountability standards and rules
will generally be consistent with those issued by the National
Academies of Sciences and the National Institutes of Health.
Since the federal
government has chosen to stall the medical advancements that will
come with stem cell research, we believe it is up to the states to
take action. Several states have chosen to suppress stem cell
research, and other states have seen their programs held up in the
partisan legislative process. Scientists in Missouri, for instance,
have been forced to halt all recruiting and funding efforts for the
Stowers Institute as the issue is debated. By making this new public
funding available here, Illinois has become one of the nation's
leaders in providing resources for stem cell research.
We encourage you to
explore the possibility of moving to Illinois and leveraging our
great research institutions, where many of your colleagues have
found the freedom to explore the promise of stem cell research and
its potential application for many of society's most debilitating
diseases. If you are interested in find[ing] out more about this
program, please call David Carvalho, Deputy Director of the Illinois
Department of Public Health, at (312) 814-2793. We look forward to
welcoming you to Illinois and providing you with the tools you need
to expand your research.
Sincerely,
Rod Blagojevich
Governor
Dan Hynes
Comptroller
[News release from the governor's
office]
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