California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Media Advisory: Update to Agenda for ICOC Meeting in Irvine.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- The Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group has requested that the ICOC consider adding an agenda item to the meeting in Irvine on July 12, 2005. The Standards Working Group met for the first time on July 7, 2005 and unanimously voted for this suggestion.

Specifically, the Standards Working Group is requesting that the ICOC amend its motion adopting the NAS Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research as its interim guidelines and direct the Standards Working Group to:

--convert the Guidelines into regulatory language

--make changes necessary to conform the Guidelines to California law

--propose this language to the ICOC for its consideration as interim standards at the ICOC's September 9, 2005 meeting, and to commence the formal rule making process under the Administrative Procedure Act if and after the ICOC adopts this language as its interim standards.

A[micro]   WHO:     Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee

A[micro]   WHAT:    Members of the ICOC will consider a suggestion from the
             Standards Working Group regarding the language of the NAS
             Guidelines.

             Members of ICOC will consider recommendations from the
             Legislative Subcommittee on policy enhancements covering
             avoidance of conflict of interest, open meetings for
             working groups and comprehensive reporting to the State
             legislature.

             The ICOC will also hear a special presentation on
             patients living with spinal cord injuries by Dr. Hans
             Kierstad, University of California, Reeve-Irvine Research
             Center.

             To see the full agenda for the July 12 meeting, please
             visit the CIRM Web site
             (http://www.cirm.ca.gov/meetings/2005/07/071205.asp)

A[micro]   WHEN:    TUESDAY, JULY 12/8:00 A.M.--5:30 P.M. (Estimated)

A[micro]   WHERE:   IRVINE
             UCI University Club
             University of California, Irvine
             801 East Peltason Drive
             Irvine, CA 92697

A[micro]   WHY:     The ICOC is responsible for the oversight and management
             of the CIRM, which was established in 2004 with the
             passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell
             Research and Cures Initiative. The statewide ballot
             measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem
             cell research at California universities and research
             institutions, was approved by California voters, and
             called for the establishment of an entity to make grants
             and provide loans for stem cell research, research
             facilities, and other vital research opportunities.