The state commits to collaborating with California on stem cell research.
Wisconsin signs an agreement with California to help scientists in both states to combine forces and more quickly discover better treatments for patients.
“It is very, very critical, in my judgment, that Wisconsin be a cooperating partner with all places in the world that are engaged in this very, very critical research.”
In signing the deal with California, Governor Jim Doyle was joined by two leading UW Madison stem-cell researchers — Dr. Tim Kamp and Dr. James Thomson. Doyle says it’s not a competition in which Wisconsin tries to beat California. Instead, it’s about joining forces to cure people with debilitating diseases.
“Just as Jamie’s incredible breakthroughs that happened in Madison have led to great research successes in other parts of the world, so in Wisconsin we truly hope that breakthroughs that will happen in California and in Massachusetts and in other parts of the world will then lead to further breakthroughs that will happen in Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin is a leader in stem cell research. UW-Madison scientist James Thomson was the first to derive stem cells from human embryos. California has similar agreements with New York, Maryland, and seven foreign countries. Scientists are combining efforts to find cures for Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s and other diseases.