The California public is being given a chance to weigh in with anonymous comments about what they think of the performance of the $3 billion California stem cell agency.

Their opinions are being sought by a blue-ribbon, Institute of Medicine panel. The IOM is being paid $700,000 by the agency to examine its operations.

The questions include the importance of stem cell research and CIRM's role, its openness and transparency, an assessment of its grant programs and how it should share information with the public, suggestions for improvements and more.

The online form was posted recently on the IOM web site and can be found here. The deadline for submissions is March 19.

The IOM also has survey forms for academic and non-profit CIRM grant recipients, CIRM grant recipients that are businesses(which the IOM calls "industry partners") and "leadership of CIRM-funded institutions." The deadline for those is March 19 as well.

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss