Policy Considerations for States Supporting Stem Cell Research: Evidence from a Survey of Stem Cell Scientists

Five states now provide funding for stem cell research and numerous states are developing or debating stem cell research policies. Yet despite this interest, few data exist to help policymakers design policies or forecast their impact. This article reports novel data from two surveys: one directed at those most affected by these policies - stem cell scientists themselves - and one at a group of biomedical researchers from less contentious fields. These data identified relatively high mobility among stem cell scientists, particularly those in states with restrictive policies, and a strong preference for states with permissive policies. These findings suggest state-specific policies may prove to be effective recruiting tools. They also suggest specific recruitment strategies and highlight the importance of first-mover advantage as several states compete to recruit from the same limited pool of mobile scientists. This research aims to provide a factual basis to support ongoing policy formulation in the area.

• School of Public Policy