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Stem Cell Funds Launch a Scientific Gold Rush
By Betsy Mason
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
21 June 2005
When the Bush administration imposed strict limits on government funding for human embryonic stem cell research in 2001, it sparked fear of a "brain drain" of researchers fleeing the country in search of a better climate for their work.
The small group of U.S. stem cell scientists began to look nervously around their shallow pool and ask each other, "Are you going to Europe?"
Then came Proposition 71, California's successful ballot initiative to fund stem cell research to the tune of $3 billion over the next decade.
"Now everybody asks if you're going to California," said postdoctoral researcher Mathew Lensch, an embryonic stem cell scientist at Harvard. "You want to talk about brain drain? The whole country's tilting to the west."
California's universities and research institutions are scrambling to position themselves for Prop. 71 funds. Nearly every institution in the state with its hands in the stem cell game or aspiring to join it is creating jobs for people experienced with the gifted little cells. Scientists are adamant that the healing potential of stem cells is real. But the stem cell field is itself in the embryonic stage and has very few senior scientists, perhaps just a couple of dozen, capable of heading a strong research group and training budding scientists. The draining sounds can already be heard gurgling through this small pool as California tries to satisfy its new appetite for the science.
UCSF hopes to hire up to eight stem cell researchers in the next few years; Stanford is looking for five or six; UC Berkeley just hired one and is looking for at least one more; UCLA wants to fill its recently created stem cell institute with a dozen researchers; and UC San Diego hopes to bring on as many as 10.
"Having a source of funds like this, which has suddenly come available to people only in the state of California, is a major benefit," said Arnold Kriegstein, the director of UCSF's stem cell biology program. "I get a lot of e-mail from people all over the world who are interested in coming to California."
The fierce competition within California for the top candidates will intensify as other states fight to keep their researchers. "The handful of people who are already doing this research can write their own ticket if they're good," said Randy Schekman, a stem cell researcher at UC Berkeley.
Last month, Stanford managed to reel in two big catches, including Stefan Heller of Harvard. Heller was the first to identify adult stem cells in the inner ear of a mammal, and is at the top of his field.
"To be able to bring someone who is the world's best requires a lot of resources," said Robert Jackler, chairman of Stanford's otolaryngology department, who recruited Heller. "Prop. 71 puts some very sizable research funds on the table."
Harvard made every effort to hang on to Heller, accelerating his promotion to associate professor and giving him an endowed chair, but by October he'll be sitting in a new chair and furthering Stanford's quest to cure deafness.
"I had a really good place here in Boston as well," said Heller. "But there were a couple of points that came up during the negotiations, and Proposition 71 was one of them."
The biology department at UC San Diego was unable to fill two positions it opened for stem cell researchers this year. None of the applicants fit the specific needs of the department. The positions will be open for another round of applications in the fall.
"There really aren't many people with human embryonic stem cell experience," said Steven Briggs, a stem cell researcher and member of the UCSD biology department's hiring committee.
Compounding the shortage of stem cell scientists, President Bush's policy of only funding research on a few embryonic stem cell lines created before 2001 has discouraged students and young scientists from pursuing the research. The ethical controversy surrounding the science may be turning students off as well. Instead they focus on adult stem cells, or mouse embryonic stem cells, or a different field altogether.
"People aren't exactly wanting to rush into the fray," said Harvard's Lensch.
But new blood is critical for the field to grow. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, established by Prop. 71 to dole out the money, is tackling the shortage by directing the first round of grants to training. A total of $45 million will be awarded for 18 three-year grants of up to $1.25 million a year. The Institute received 27 letters of intent to apply. Proposals are due July 1.
Kriegstein is busy preparing UCSF's proposal for 16 graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and clinical fellows, the maximum allowed. A pent-up demand among current students interested in stem cell research ensures some slots will be filled right away if they get the grant, he said.
"The idea that if you throw money at it, people will come is true," said Zena Werb, a cell biologist at UCSF. "Money talks."
Werb interviewed several students interested in UCSF in February who said they were applying only to California schools because they want to work on stem cells.
Kriegstein is also hoping to lure some of the world's top stem cell researchers to UCSF and has made two offers. But competition from other schools has upped the ante. "Everyone in California is looking to build up their program and so now we're competing with those people," he said.
California is not the only state with its eye on the stem cell prize, said Berkeley's Schekman. "The major research centers that have talented investigators are not going to sit idly by and watch talent move to California."
Other states are moving to support stem cell research, and Schekman holds out hope that the federal government will one day follow suit.
Though just a drop in the bucket relative to Prop. 71, New Jersey actually beat California to the punch in 2004 with its own $6.5 million stem cell research institute, and the state plans to spend $50 million on human embryonic stem cell research over the next five years. Three New York research institutions, including Cornell University, got a $50 million shot in the arm from the Starr Foundation in May. Massachusetts recently passed legislation permitting embryonic stem cell research.
With lawsuits stalling California's bonds to finance stem cell research, other states may seem like a safer bet to some scientists.
"We have very strong reasons for them to stay," said Charles Jennings, executive director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Harvard boasts the largest community of stem cell researchers in the country and a $100 million fund-raising goal for the institute.
There is even some reverse traffic heading east. Earlier this year, Harvard lured stem cell researcher Kenneth Chien away from UCSD.
Despite interest from several California institutions, Lensch opted to stay put when he secured a two-year grant from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.
But he's not ruling out California.
"It would be like saying you're an actor and not considering going to Hollywood," Lensch said.
"California is going to be the place to be unless something changes in this country."
Betsy Mason covers science and the national laboratories. Reach her at 925-847-2158 or bmason@cctimes.com.
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