Will Californians OK Billions More for Stem Cell Research?

California’s stem cell agency spent $2.9 billion in taxpayer funds creating laboratories, funding future scientists’ education, and underwriting research that’s yet to produce a commercial product. Now proponents of continuing the agency’s mission are refining their pitch to voters for another $5.5 billion.

Backers of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which created an ecosystem and funding source for early-stage stem cell research, will begin gathering signatures in January for a November bond initiative to fund developing treatments that may be years away from reaching patients. They will face doubters and lots of competition for voters’ attention and tax dollars. ...