UC Nobel Prize winners back $7.5 billion proposed investment in California research

University of California Nobel laureates Dr. Jennifer Doudna and Dr. Randy Schekman released the statements below following a deal announced today on UC-sponsored SB 895, authored by state Senator Scott Wiener. The bill would place a measure on the March 2028 state ballot to provide $7.5 billion for cutting-edge research addressing some of California's most pressing health, environmental and technological challenges.

"California built the world's most successful system of research universities," said Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., a UC Berkeley biochemist, Nobel laureate, and founder of the Innovative Genomics Institute. "SB 895 represents an important investment in the research infrastructure that will allow California to continue advancing scientific breakthroughs, improving lives, and driving innovation and growth for generations. We are grateful to Governor Newsom, Senator Wiener, and the legislature for their support of this important issue."

"California's strength and ingenuity depends on its ability to turn bold ideas into solutions to our most pressing problems," said Randy Schekman, Ph.D., UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology and Nobel laureate. "That's why we need to invest in research and continue building on our nation-leading enterprise at UC. SB 895 will help protect the people and discoveries that drive billions of dollars in economic activity and improve lives across our state, and I thank Governor Newsom, Senator Wiener, and the entire legislature for leading the way on these efforts."

Click here for an explainer on the bill and here to learn about UC's sponsorship.

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