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By executive order, Blagojevich directed 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, to
be named the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, will be up
and running by the end of the year. With this announcement,
Illinois becomes 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.
"Since the federal government has chosen to stall the medical
advancements that will come with stem cell research, it is up to the
states to take action," Blagojevich said. "We cannot allow our
citizens to suffer when relief may be available."
"The federal government's inaction presented two options for
Illinois," Hynes said. "We could either refuse to acknowledge the
inevitability and worth of scientific progress, or we could embrace
and find a means to harness it for the betterment of our citizens.
We could be timid and reactionary, or bold and visionary. We chose
to be bold."
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.
The governor's executive order dictates 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 new institute.
"Stem cell research is a largely untapped medical resource that
may lead to cures for painful diseases ranging from cancer to
Parkinson's," Blagojevich said. "We owe it to people who are
suffering to exhaust every possibility to better treat or perhaps
even cure disease. I'm honored to be able to provide that
opportunity. I want to commend Comptroller Hynes and Representative
Tom Cross, Senator Jeff Schoenberg and Representative Sara
Feigenholtz, along with so many others, for their hard work in
making this initiative possible."
Hynes, who aggressively fought for stem cell funding this past
legislative session, praised the governor's action.
"Today, the state of Illinois made a down payment on hope for the
millions of Illinoisans or their family members who are suffering
from devastating diseases or injuries," Hynes said. "This is not
hope clung tenuously to wishful thinking, but realistic hope,
grounded in scientific advancements already made and strong
consensus within the scientific community that stem cell research
holds limitless potential."
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 "Today marks an historic step forward for medical research in
Illinois, as we provide scientists with more tools to aggressively
pursue potential breakthroughs in finding cures for numerous
diseases and conditions," said Schoenberg, D-Evanston, chief Senate
sponsor of legislation promoting expanded stem cell research.
"Thanks to Governor Blagojevich, today we are answering the prayers
of countless families who cling to the hope that cures can be
discovered so that their loved ones will one day realize a better
quality of life."
"The potential of the institute and the research that will result
from its work will have an enormous impact in sparing lives in
Illinois," said Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, chief House sponsor of
legislation promoting expanded stem cell research. "Mothers,
fathers, sons and daughters will likely be saved from what might
have otherwise resulted in terminal illnesses. I am proud to be a
part of this effort to fund stem cell research in Illinois and
applaud the governor for taking this courageous and historic step
forward."
The executive order also mandates 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.
"Stem cell research has been clouded by politics at the federal
level, and these funds will augment that to allow scientists to do
the critical work that needs to be done," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker,
state public health director. "Funding this type of research at the
state level will open the doors to groundbreaking medical
advancements in the areas of diseases like juvenile diabetes and
neurological disorders."
The executive order drew immediate praise from the scientific
community and advocacy communities, including the University of
Chicago, ALS Les Turner Foundation, Spinal Cord Injury Association
of Illinois, Protestants for the Common Good, Illinois in Motion,
Children's Memorial Research Center, American Diabetes Association,
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Hadassah, Health Care
Consortium of Illinois, Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois,
Rehabilitation Institute of Illinois, Rush University, Brain Injury
Association of Illinois, Northwestern University Feinberg School of
Medicine, Parkinson's Action Network, Autism Society of Illinois,
University of Illinois Chicago, Canavan Research Illinois, Illinois
Service Providers Alliance, Parkinson's Disease Foundation and
American Parkinson's Disease Association.
"The scientific community is grateful for the opportunity to
explore the promise of stem cell research, including all types of
stem cells and their potential application for many of society's
most debilitating diseases, including Parkinson's, juvenile
diabetes, spinal cord injuries and cancer," said Dr. Mary J.C.
Hendrix, president and scientific director of
Children's Memorial Research Center. "Through the vision and
leadership of the governor and the comptroller, the state is now
giving our academic research centers the means to explore this
promise and contribute new therapies for humankind."
"Illinois can join the growing numbers of states that have
embraced the best medical research man has to offer for the benefit
of people like my daughter, Clara," said Gretchen Livingston,
legislative chair for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
"She has done her part by pricking her finger 10 times a day to test
her blood sugar, putting a large needle into her stomach to deliver
insulin and counting the carbs of everything she eats. And now our
elected leaders have done their part to support her."
[News release from the governor's
office]
For more information
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WHEREAS, millions
of Illinoisans and their families suffer through debilitating
diseases and injuries, and these conditions place enormous emotional
and financial stress on the people afflicted and all those who care
for them; and
WHEREAS, in August
2001, the President announced a policy limiting federal funding for
research on embryonic stem cell lines; and
WHEREAS, several
states have taken their own independent action in pursuit of
developing better treatments and finding cures by implementing or
proposing public funding initiatives for the development of
embryonic stem cell research in their states; and
WHEREAS, the State
of Illinois should maximize the use of state research funds by
giving priority to stem cell research that has the greatest
potential for therapies and cures that cannot or are unlikely to
receive sufficient federal funding; and
WHEREAS, medical
research advances that lead to better treatments of diseases and
ultimately cures will help reduce long-term health care costs on
Illinois taxpayers; and
THERFORE, I HEREBY
ORDER THE FOLLOWING:
Illinois Department
of Public Health (Grant program/ Rulemaking)
The Director of the
Illinois Department of Public Health shall develop an Illinois
Regenerative Medicine Institute (IRMI) program within the department
that will provide for the awarding of grants to medical research
facilities for the development of finding treatments and cures from
stem cell research.
The Department of
Public Health shall adopt rules for the issuance and administration
of grants authorized by this Executive Order. All eligible grant
recipients shall comply with all terms and conditions of the
Department prior to acceptance of such awards.
Stem Cell Research
Policy & IRMI Functions
All rules adopted
by the Department shall be consistent with the policies and
functions of the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute (IRMI)
program as set forth below:
1) The Department
of Public Health shall establish the IRMI program to make grants and
loans for stem cell research to study therapies, protocols, medical
procedures, possible cures for, and potential mitigations of, major
diseases, injuries, and orphan diseases; to support all stages of
the process of developing cures, from laboratory research through
successful
clinical trials;
to establish the appropriate regulatory standards and oversight
bodies for research and facilities development.
2) The IRMI program
shall provide funding for stem cell research that involves adult
stem cells, cord blood stem cells, pluripotent stem cells,
totipotent stem cells, progenitor cells, the product of somatic cell
nuclear transfer or any combination of those cells.
3) No funds
authorized or made available under the IRMI program shall be used
for research involving the reproductive cloning of a human being,
fetuses from induced abortions or to create embryos through the
combination of gametes solely for the purpose of research. As used
in this Executive Order, "cloning of a human being" means asexual
human reproduction by implanting or attempting to implant the
product of nuclear transplantation into a woman's uterus to initiate
a human pregnancy.
4) No funds shall
be awarded to any person who knowingly, for valuable consideration,
purchases or sells embryonic or cadaveric fetal tissue for research
purposes. For the purposes of this paragraph, payment of customary
medical charges for the removal, processing, disposal, preservation,
quality control, storage, transplantation, or implantation of the
tissue does not constitute valuable consideration. This paragraph
does not prohibit reimbursement for removal, storage, or
transportation of embryonic fetal tissue for research purposes
pursuant to this Executive Order.
5) The Department
shall issue an annual report to the Governor, and the appropriate
appropriations committee of the General Assembly that sets forth
grants awarded, grants in progress, research accomplishments, and
future program directions.
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Grantee
Requirements & Conditions
Medical and
scientific accountability standards.
All eligible
grantees shall comply with all terms and conditions of the
Department rules which shall include, but not be limited to, the
specific requirements and conditions as set forth below prior to
acceptance of any such grant awards.
(1) Informed
consent. Standards for obtaining the
informed consent
of research donors, patients, or participants initially shall be
generally based on the requirements at 45 CFR 46.116 for all
research funded by the National Institutes of Health and consistent
with the Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research issued by
the National Academies of Sciences.
(2) Controls on
research involving humans. Standards for the review of research
involving human subjects shall be generally based on the policies
adopted at 45 CFR 46 for all research funded by the National
Institutes of Health.
(3) Limitations on
payments for cells. Department rules shall limit payments for the
purchase of stem cells or stem cell lines to reasonable payment for
removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control,
storage, transplantation, implantation, or legal transaction or
other administrative costs associated with these medical procedures
and shall specifically include any required payments for medical or
scientific technologies, products, or processes for royalties,
patent, licensing fees, or other costs for intellectual property.
Department rules shall be consistent with the Guidelines for Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Research issued by the National Academies of
Sciences.
(4) Patient privacy
laws. Standards shall ensure compliance with State and federal
patient privacy laws.
(5) Time limits for
obtaining cells. Standards shall set a limit on the time during
which cells may be extracted from blastocysts, which shall initially
be 8 to 12 days after cell division begins, not counting any time
during which the blastocysts or cells have been stored frozen.
(6) All grants and
loan awards issued by the institute shall include intellectual
property provisions that provide protections and incentives to
encourage both the discovery and development of new knowledge and
its transfer for the public benefit. It is the policy and objective
of the institute to promote the utilization of intellectual property
arising from program-supported research or development; to promote
collaboration between commercial concerns and nonprofit
organizations, including universities; to ensure that intellectual
property is used in a manner to promote free competition and
enterprise without unduly encumbering future research and discovery;
to ensure that the State obtains proportionate rights in
institute-supported intellectual property; to protect the public
against nonuse or unreasonable use of such intellectual property;
and to minimize the costs of administering policies in this area.
Severability
If any provision of
this Executive Order or its application to any person or
circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction,
this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application
of this Executive Order which can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the
provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
Effective Date
This Executive
Order shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of
State.
Rod R. Blagojevich,
Governor
Issued by Governor:
July 7, 2005
Filed with
Secretary of State: July 7, 2005
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