California Proposition 38 faces scrutiny over research institute funding

California's Proposition 38, a ballot measure set for November, proposes allocating up to $8.4 billion in bonds for scientific research focused on the immune system, including treatments for Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease. Under the measure, a single unnamed research institute would receive half of these funds.

Questions have arisen regarding the preparedness of the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, which is the only institution currently meeting the specific criteria outlined in the ballot language. Despite the potential to receive $4.2 billion, the institute reported having only three employees as of last month, significantly fewer than the 51 staffers it had planned to employ by last year.

Billionaire Gary K. Michelson, the principal funder of the institute and the largest donor to the proposition's political campaign, authored the measure. Supporters argue the bond is necessary to stabilize research funding amidst potential federal grant cuts, while critics contend the design overlooks established public and nonprofit research labs in favor of subsidizing specific subsets of science.