Brownback: Use Bioscience Money For Stem Cell Center

Gov. Sam Brownback says the state should divert $1.15 million from bioscience efforts to fund a new adult stem cell center at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The governor said Monday that the money from the Kansas Bioscience Authority could be used to create the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, with $754,500 per year to maintain the center after that.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the proposal was part of numerous spending adjustments Brownback has sent to the Legislature, which reconvenes May 8.

The Legislature this session passed a bill requiring the medical center to start the adult stem cell center but did not provide funds for it.

The center is prohibited from using embryonic stem cells or cells from fetal tissue in its research.

(Information from: Lawrence Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com)