California voters approved a 2004 ballot proposition to fund the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine for 10 years because they "wanted to stop the tragedy of spinal cord injuries and end the ravages of Alzheimer's disease" through stem cell therapies, a San Jose Mercury News editorial states. It continues, "Now that the end of [CIRM]'s 10-year life span is in sight, it's time for the founders to step back and encourage universities and industry to take over the pursuit of therapies using these potent cells." The editorial concludes, "The promise of stem cell treatments now must be kept alive with funding from industry, academic institutions and private foundations and philanthropists."