In an effort to protect thousands of local jobs, lifesaving clinical trials, and more than 1,700 active research projects at UC San Diego, Scripps Research, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, San Diego State University, and local startups, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted in late May to support a proposed $23 billion state research bond to help counter sweeping federal cuts to scientific research and development.
The proposed bond, SB 895, the California Science and Health Research Bond Act, would help protect California’s science and innovation economy at a time when the Trump Administration is cutting and suspending research funding that supports medical breakthroughs, public health, climate resilience, and thousands of good-paying jobs.
San Diego County is one of the nation’s leading biomedical and life sciences hubs. The National Institutes of Health alone sends more than $1 billion annually to the region, supporting more than 1,700 active research projects at major universities, nonprofit research institutes, startups, and smaller research organizations. UC San Diego alone received an additional $350 million in federal research and development funding from non-NIH agencies in 2024.
The biomedical and life sciences industry supports more than 160,000 local jobs and contributes more than $54 billion to San Diego’s regional economy every year.
The bond would not take effect unless approved by California voters. The proposal includes annual independent audits reviewed by the State Controller, public disclosure of grant awards, and annual reporting on outcomes
