IOM recommends organizational changes for CIRM

The Institute of Medicine made several recommendations on revising the governance structure of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The recommendations came in an independent review commissioned by CIRM to evaluate the institute's programs, operations and strategies. IOM recommended separating CIRM's operations from its oversight, a change that would require amending the legislation that created CIRM. The IOM recommended that CIRM's governing board -- the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (ICOC) -- focus on strategic planning, oversight, allocation of resources and program definition rather than on daily operational activities, and said CIRM's president and senior management be responsible for day-to-day affairs, including the review of grant applications and funding recommendations.

The IOM also recommended that CIRM establish a scientific advisory board to provide input on which discoveries should advance to human trials, outline how best to engage industry partners and ensure the institute is appropriately funding the "best" science. The IOM recommended that CIRM revise its conflict of interest policies to include conflicts that arise out of nonfinancial interests and increase industry representation on the ICOC and the institute's other working groups. Additionally, the IOM said CIRM should develop a plan to sustain the institute, including details on how CIRM will obtain funding after it has spent the $3 billion in funding allocated through state bonds. ...