On Saturday, March 31, Governor Eliot Spitzer, Lieutenant-Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver signed off on a long-term package to fund stem-cell and regenerative medicine research in the State of New York, beginning with an appropriation of $100 million for Fiscal Year 2008 that begins April 1, 2007. It is expected that over the next ten years, the state will provide up to $50 million annually for stem-cell research from HCRA, the fund through which conversion funds are administered when health insurance companies become private.

Leading the charge on this initiative was NYAMR, the statewide coalition of some 46 universities, health advocacy groups and citizens' organizations that was set up four years ago to campaign for State support of stem-cell and regenerative medicine research.

Robin Anthony Elliott, Executive Director of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and Chair of NYAMR, applauded the move in his statement below.

“In one decisive action, the State's decision to appropriate $100 million for stem-cell and regenerative medicine research in FY 2007-08, along with the prospect of additional funding at this level for a decade, will clearly define the State of New York as a world leader in this crucial area of research. It will send a signal that we are committed to this important area of science; help us to retain gifted scientists and attract others; invigorate economic development in several areas of our state; and offer New Yorkers the hope for future cures of chronic and degenerative conditions such as spinal cord injury, Type-One diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

“For this courageous action, all of our State leaders — Lieutenant Governor Paterson, Governor Spitzer, Speaker Silver and Senate Majority Leader Bruno and all who supported them in both houses of the Legislature — deserve the thanks and applause of everyone in our State who cares about a long-term investment in the solution of human disease.”