In the summer of 2009, three Italian stem cellⁱ scientists unsuccessfully challenged their government in the courts over its decision to exclude human embryonic stem cellⁱ research from a ministerial funding call for projects on stem cell biology. In correspondence published in Nature on 10th February 2010, the scientists argue that their case is both politically and culturally significant.

Call opening 2nd November 2009 

The Thierry Latran Foundation was set up under the aegis of Fondation de France. It aims to foster and promote research in the fields of ALS and protection of motor neuron. The Thierry Latran Foundation is now running its second call for projects.

The call is for an aggregate amount up to  € 1 million . Of this, € 300 000 will be dedicated to the specific topic, Stem cells therapeutic approaches in ALS

Other topics are:

The Italian government has excluded human embryonic stem cellsⁱ from a recent funding opportunity for stem cell biologists. A Nature News article of 1st July reports how three scientists are appealing against this decision.

The use of established lines of human embryonic stem cells in research is legal in Italy. Nevertheless, funding for such research has had a bumpy ride. In 2007 a 3 million Euro government stem cell research fund was cancelled after some scientists argued that monies were being distributed without appropriately transparent proposal and review processes.

Most of the limited public research funds in Italy are distributed through direct negotiation between the national and regional governments (and their administrators) and research institutions or even individual scientists. It is not uncommon to read in newspapers that millions of euros have gone to a research centre or to individual scientists, in the absence of any kind of long-term national strategy, and worse, without any open and public competition for the best proposals.