California looks at its own National Institutes of Health while scientific financing is faced with deep federal cuts

Los Angeles (Kabc) – The UCLA is part of many Californian universities in shock from extraordinary cuts to scientific funding, but what happens if our state had its own Version of the National Institutes of Health?

“California’s economy is massive,” said Dr Otto Yang, a researcher in cellular immunology at the David Geffen School of Medicine of the UCLA.

California has recently become the fourth largest economy in the world, exceeding Japan and Germany. Research is research and innovation.

“For each dollar spent to support research funding, around two and a half dollars returned to the economy,” said Yang, who said Scientific Study pays for himself.

Last year, United for medical researchA coalition of research institutes, indicates that $ 5.1 billion granted to California universities and hospitals generated $ 13.8 billion in jobs, services and scientific discovery.

“There is an intellectual property production which can be transformed into drugs or treatments, and therefore the yields are quite enormous,” said Yang.

However, in March, the Ministry of Government efficiency led by Elon Musk – also known as DOGE – said it had reduced $ 109 million in grants just at UCLA. Many other programs across the state remain in limbo.

“If the federal government will withdraw from scientific leadership and research, California should intensify even more and direct the world,” said California Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).

He presented a bill that would help fill the financing gaps. California Institute for Scientific Research proposed would cover biomedicine, climate change, drug safety and vaccines.

“Our government is expected to finance scientific research,” he said. “This does not happen at the federal level. We must see how we do this at the level of the state.”

The way in which the State will subscribe to such an agency remains a work in progress that California is struggling with proposed cuts and deficits.

“Well, that does not increase taxes,” said Wiener. “Obviously, we are in a bad budgetary year, so we know that it will be complicated, but my goal is at least to get involved that it is a good idea and we must continue it.”

If the details can be developed and the plan is well received, the bill could go to Governor Gavin Newsom in September.