Two distinguished Stanford professors are part of a group of supporters of embryonic stem cell research that is currently pushing for a $3 billion bond proposition, which, if passed, would make California the first state to fund the controversial research.

Nobel Laureate Paul Berg, professor emeritus of cancer research, and Dr. Irving Weissman, director of the Institute for Cancer / Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, are part of the coalition that hopes to put the proposition on the November ballot in California.

Weissman, a leading researcher in stem cells, argues for the potential of stem cell research as both a “fundamental and a therapeutic science.”

Weissman said that progress in stem cell research will not only help cure major diseases, but also will lead to a greater understanding of the disease process, such as pinpointing genes that predispose newborn children to chronic illness.

“Stem cells can give rise in a test tube to just about every cell in the body,” Weissman said.

The proposal would entail a bond issue of $300 million for the next 10 years and would require an amendment to the state constitution. The money generated from the bonds would then be used to create research centers at major universities, potentially including Stanford.

Berg explained that existing labs could use the funding because the federal government has not yet prohibited private funds in stem cell research.

“The whole argument is that California can’t afford for the federal government to stymie life-saving research,” Berg said.

For the proposal to reach the ballot, the coalition must collect 600,000 signatures of support by mid-April. Berg said he anticipates “a hefty debate” on the issue.

Berg cited two obstacles to the proposal. First, ideological and theological arguments against stem cell research raise ethical concerns.

Cost, too, is a factor. California’s strained budget would make it difficult to immediately start paying interest on the bonds with full payback after five years.

Berg responded to this concern by referring to the economic growth potentially stimulated by the research. He emphasized that in addition to leading to the creation of approximately 100 biotechnology companies — employing anywhere from 200 to 400 people — advances in stem cell research would lead to long term pay-off in its impact on healthcare.

Another major consequence could be a large migration of scientists to California and pressure from the scientific communities in other states to follow California’s example.

Berg said he was afraid that of the federal government’s response to such a trend.

“If duplicated, what will the federal government do?” Berg asked. “It can throw up its hands and respect state rights, or, on the other hand, it can say we need legislation that preempts this technology. It can bring down the heavy hand of the government.”

Among the major road blocks to progress are bills pending in the U.S. Senate that would prohibit stem cell research and penalize researchers with ten years in prison or a $1 million fine.

“A lot of us have been very active in opposing that congressional initiative and so far have had sufficient help to block the bill in the house,” Berg said.

The coalition, originally organized by Los Angeles’ Californians for Stem Cell Research and Cures, was partly motivated by the story of Jordan Klein, a local 13-year-old boy with juvenile diabetes.

Berg calls Klein’s type 1 diabetes a “nasty disease,” which has killed millions and which “will require the use of stem cell research” in finding a likely cure.

Jordan’s father, Robert Klein, is a Palo Alto-based attorney and has donated $500,000 to support the initiative for stem cell research.

Weissman said that stem cell research could potentially cure major disabilities and diseases including juvenile diabetes, spinal paralysis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.