President Joel Seligman took a bold step yesterday morning in signing a proposal along with 17 prominent New York universities and research institutions urging New York State to support a state fund to finance stem cell research. Although nationally this issue has been highly controversial, Seligman was brave to speak candidly rather than concern himself with the political antagonism that accompanies such sensitive topics. UR needs the state’s financial and political support in this important research field. Without state-funded grants the university will potentially lose the prominent scientists and researchers that draw the attention, funding and recognition which has raised the university’s profile. This could motivate those scientists to conduct their research in states like California, Massachusetts and Maryland where state funds have already been established to draw stem cell researchers. Beyond the proposal being practical and necessary to advance the promise of stem cell research, it is important to note the significance of these well-known, leading institutions banding together to support this cause. Now politicians can feel like they have a mandate to advocate for state support of the stem cell cause.
And as New York State benefits greatly from the advances in medicine that can potentially result from stem cell research, UR will be benefitting as well. UR will be able to continue to recruit top-notch faculty, make previously impossible medical strides, and continue to draw revenue through spin-off technology in the future.
