Stem Cell Institute President Resigns

SAN FRANCISCO, April 17, 2007 – Zach W. Hall, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), announced today that he is resigning his position effective April 30, 2007.

  This past December, Hall said he intended to retire in June. His plans changed, in part, due to a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer.

  Halls letter of resignation to the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, CIRMs governing board, follows in full:

  Dear Colleagues,

  I am writing to announce that I will be stepping down as President and Chief Scientific Officer of CIRM as of April 30. I had originally intended to stay through the June ICOC meeting, but several recent developments have caused me to change my plans.

  First, and most importantly, I have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and, in early May, will be undergoing surgery that will require several weeks convalescence.

Secondly, I had hoped, in spite of the surgery, to stay long enough to complete the Shared Laboratories RFA review and to help launch the large facilities RFA in June. It is clear from the most recent Facilities Working Group meeting, however, that there is a strong and understandable desire by the working group to have a longer and more deliberative approach to developing the RFA than I will have time to lead. In addition, the exceedingly contentious and occasionally personal tone of the last FWG meeting suggests that it is in both my best interest and that of the Institute for me to step down at this time.

I am very, very proud of what we have accomplished together. I have enjoyed working with such a distinguished and talented group, both on the ICOC and at CIRM. It has been a privilege to participate in this great project, and I wish you every possible success as you continue to pursue it.

Sincerely,

  Zach W. Hall, Ph.D.

  President

About CIRM
Governed by the ICOC, CIRM was established in 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions, was approved by California voters, and called for the establishment of an entity to make grants and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities, and other vital research opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cirm.ca.gov.

 

Contact:  Dale A. Carlson
                   415/396-9117