Cancer survivor backs California research ballot measure after CAR T remission

Laurie Adami, a Los Angeles cancer survivor and Blood Cancer United board member, is urging Californians to vote yes on Proposition 38. Her case for the measure comes after CAR T-cell therapy put her stage IV lymphoma into remission and as supporters say the initiative would expand immunology research statewide.

Why it matters: - Laurie Adami’s story is being used to make the case for Proposition 38, a California ballot measure that would direct $8.4 billion toward immunology research. - Supporters say the measure could help speed work on cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and other chronic diseases. - Adami’s experience offers a real-world example of how medical research can turn a last-resort trial into a lifesaving treatment.

What happened: - Adami published a guest opinion piece, "I’m Alive Today Because of Life-Saving Medical Research," and described why she supports a YES vote on Prop 38. - In 2006, Adami, then running a software company in Los Angeles, was diagnosed with stage IV follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. - Adami’s son was 6 years old at the time of her diagnosis. - After 12 years of treatments and three clinical trials, Adami exhausted the options her doctors could offer by 2018. - Adami then entered a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, an immunotherapy that uses a patient’s own immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer. - Adami says the cancer was gone within 30 days of receiving CAR T-cell immunotherapy. - Adami has remained in complete remission for more than eight years.

The details: - Prop 38 is called the Immunology Medical Research & Cures Initiative. - Supporters say federal research funding cuts halted at least 160 active clinical trials nationwide in 2025. - Prop 38 is structured to pay for itself, according to supporters. - The measure would require 10% of proceeds from licensing immunotherapies to be returned to California to offset the initiative’s total costs, including interest. - Any cure or immunotherapy developed under the measure would be provided to California patients at a 20% discount below the national average. - Prop 38 includes a 2% cap on state administrative expenses. - The measure requires public disclosure of spending and independent financial audits. - For-profit corporations would not be eligible for grant funding. - Blood Cancer United, formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is one of more than 70 groups endorsing YES on Prop 38. - Blood Cancer United says it is the largest nonprofit funder of blood cancer research and has invested more than $1.8 billion in blood cancer research worldwide since 1949. - Blood Cancer United provides free information and support services for people affected by more than 100 types of blood cancer. - The organization also advocates for access to quality, affordable and coordinated care.

Between the lines: - Adami’s op-ed centers the ballot fight on a patient story rather than a policy argument alone. - The campaign is framing immunology as both a cancer treatment strategy and a broader platform for diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, ALS, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. - The measure’s financing and accountability provisions appear designed to blunt criticism that it would be expensive or loosely overseen.

What’s next: - California voters will decide Proposition 38. - Supporters are directing voters to YESon38.com for a coalition list and endorsement information. - Blood Cancer United says more information is available at bloodcancerunited.org. - Adami’s full op-ed is available as the full op-ed