GoKawiilCalifornia voters approve $8.4bn bond for immunology research via Proposition 38
California voters passed Proposition 38, authorizing $8.4 billion in state bonds to fund immunology research aimed at developing treatments for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. It is described as the largest public vote for science funding in US history, with the state repaying the bonds plus interest over time. Final vote counts took nearly a week after the mid-term elections before the measure's passage was confirmed.
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The funding arrives as the Trump administration has cut federal science budgets and altered grant oversight at agencies like the NIH, so supporters such as UCLA's Antoni Ribas argue the measure could offer California researchers a buffer against federal instability. Using bonds rather than direct appropriations is an unusual financing method for research, which could shape how other states consider funding science in the future. The measure's internal allocation of funds has also generated debate, suggesting disagreements over priorities within the research community.
- California approved $8.4 billion in bonds for immunology research through Proposition 38.
- It is the largest public vote for science funding in US history.
- The funding comes amid federal cuts and political pressure on science agencies under the Trump administration.
Source: nature.com — Kozlov, 2026-11-10
Published there as: “California votes to give record $8.4 billion to medical research”
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