California voters approve $8.4 billion bond for immunology research

California voters have approved Proposition 38, allowing the state to issue $8.4 billion in bonds to fund immunology and immunotherapy research, CBS News Los Angeles reported. The funding aims to support research into diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.

According to the Los Angeles Times, half of the bond revenue will be allocated to a single immunology research institute selected by the California Department of Public Health. The remaining funds will be distributed as competitive grants to universities and nonprofit research institutions, including those affiliated with the University of California.

Supporters, including the Alzheimer's Association and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, emphasized that the measure comes amid federal cuts to medical research funding. They see the bond as a way to sustain and advance critical research efforts in California.

Opponents raised concerns about the narrow eligibility criteria for grant recipients, noting that only one institute currently meets the requirements, and warned about the long-term debt burden on taxpayers. The largest financial backer of the initiative was philanthropist Gary Michelson, who donated approximately $45 million to the campaign.

The proposition requires that 10% of any revenue generated from funded research be returned to the state General Fund until the bond costs are repaid, after which additional revenue will support future research. Zev Yaroslavsky of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs highlighted the importance of maintaining research momentum in the state, particularly at institutions like UCLA and UC Berkeley.