Patients back California’s Proposition 38 in push for immunology research

California patients and families are urging voters to support Proposition 38, a November measure that would direct $8.4 billion toward immunology research for cancer, Alzheimer’s, ALS and other diseases. Supporters say medical breakthroughs have already extended lives and that new funding is needed as federal research cuts disrupt clinical trials.

Why it matters: - Proposition 38 would steer $8.4 billion into immunology research aimed at preventing and treating cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and other persistent diseases. - Supporters say the measure could speed up new treatments for patients facing diseases that still have no cure, including ALS, Parkinson’s, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. - The campaign’s central argument is that medical research is already saving lives, and Californians should expand that work now.

What happened: - Patients and family members across California are publishing opinion editorials and posting stories at more information in support of Proposition 38, the Immunology Medical Research & Cures Initiative. - Dr. Christopher Campos, a neurologist and assistant professor at UC Davis Health, shared his experience with Capitol Weekly after developing ALS symptoms in 2023. - Andrew Dale, a cancer survivor and immunotherapy patient, described his experience with the Santa Monica Daily Press after a 2015 lymphoma diagnosis. - Ruben Narvaez, a kidney cancer and immunotherapy patient, shared his story with La Opinión after receiving a stage IV diagnosis.

The details: - Campos said he lost strength in one hand, then the other, before tests confirmed what he already suspected: ALS. - Campos said federal funding cuts have disrupted life-saving research and that California should invest at a scale that matches the urgency of incurable diseases. - Dale said doctors found a mass in his abdomen in 2015 and diagnosed him with lymphoma. - Dale said chemotherapy left him severely weakened and forced his medical team to explore other treatment options. - Dale said medical research conducted before his diagnosis made immunotherapy available, and that immunotherapy has kept his cancer in remission for a decade. - Narvaez said immunotherapy extended his life by eight years after a terminal stage IV kidney cancer diagnosis. - Narvaez said those years gave him more birthdays, holidays, trips and everyday time with his family. - Prop 38 says immunotherapies already are treating melanoma, lung cancer, leukemia and lymphoma. - Prop 38 also says the measure would fund next-generation research for diseases including Parkinson’s, diabetes, ALS, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. - The campaign says cuts to federal research funding are shutting down clinical trials and delaying discoveries while immunology science is gaining momentum. - The campaign says at least 160 active clinical trials nationwide have been affected by the termination of National Institutes of Health grants in 2025. - In California, universities have begun curtailing biomedical research and delaying hiring after federal grants were terminated or withheld, the campaign says. - Prop 38 would require 10% of proceeds from licensing immunotherapies developed under the measure to return to California to offset costs, including interest. - The measure would require any cure or immunotherapy developed under Prop 38 to be sold to California patients at 20% below the national average. - Prop 38 includes a 2% cap on state administrative expenses, public disclosure of spending and independent financial audits. - For-profit corporations would not be eligible for grant funding under the measure.

Between the lines: - The campaign is framing Proposition 38 as both a health policy and an urgency issue, tying the ballot measure to personal stories and federal funding cuts. - The patient testimonials are meant to show that immunology research has already translated into longer lives and better outcomes, not just future promise. - The financing language is designed to address voter concerns about cost, oversight and who benefits from public funding.

What’s next: - Supporters are urging Californians to vote yes in the upcoming election. - The campaign says nearly 100 patient advocacy, medical and research organizations back the measure. - More information, including a coalition list and supporter statements, is available at YESon38.com.

The bottom line: - Proposition 38 is being sold as a major California bet on immunology research, with supporters arguing that the state should move faster because patients cannot wait for federal funding to recover.