Stem-cell institute gets a new president, but its management challenges haven’t gone away
California’s $3 billion stem-cell agency, which has been without a permanent leader since the end of April, finally filled that void yesterday by naming Alan Trounson as its second president.
Hopes are obviously high that the widely respected Australian scientist, pictured at left, can bring some stability to the institute, formally known as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. A string of CIRM staffers, including former president Zach Hall and chief scientist Arlene Chiu, have… Continue Reading
California’s stem-cell management disarray
(CORRECTED: See below.)
These should be the best of times for California’s $3 billion stem-cell program. Lawsuits that barred the institute from spending its vast sums have been dismissed, serious money has started to flow to scientists, and a $227 million capital-spending project that will build new laboratories across the state is gearing up.
For all its successes, however, the stem-cell organization — formally known as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine — can’t seem to keep its… Continue Reading
Health and science roundup: Amgen, generic biologics, the origins of white people and more
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Amgen’s anemia rollercoaster — Biotechnology titan Amgen may have dodged a bullet when a study released Thursday showed that its anemia drug Aranesp didn’t shorten the lives of patients, after several other studies had suggested the opposite. But its anemia franchise isn’t out of the… Continue Reading
Stem cell institute sees leaders leave in exhaustion
Zach Hall, president and top scientist at California’s $3 billion stem cell institute said he will resign from the agency within the next six months.
He cited personal reasons, but he often butted heads with Robert Klein, chairman of the board. The institute is also battling a number of lawsuits which have hampered it from getting its job done. Also leaving is staff member Kate Shreve. Staff member Walter Barnes retired earlier this year, and its… Continue Reading