YES on Prop 38
Immunology Medical Research & Cures Initiative
Proposition 38 on the 2026 California ballot will provide $8.4 billion to fund breakthrough immunology medical research to cure and prevent devastating diseases that impact millions of Californians, including cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.
Key reasons to vote YES on Prop 38, the Immunology Medical Research & Cures Initiative:
Helps offset federal cuts to medical research
Prop 38 responds to federal funding cuts and uncertainty that are delaying life-saving medical research.
Dedicated funding for cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease research
Half of all funds are dedicated specifically to research into cures for Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease.
Fosters collaboration between leading scientists and physicians
Grants are overseen by an Advisory Council of leading scientists, doctors and researchers in the field of immunology.
Mandates strong accountability and transparency
State administrative costs are limited to no more than 2%, with public disclosure of all spending and independent financial audits.
Designed to pay for itself – including interest
Ten percent (10%) of all proceeds from the licensing of immunotherapies must be returned to the State of California to offset the total cost of the bond measure, including interest.
Requires 20% discount on treatments and cures for Californians
Any cure or immunotherapy developed through research funded by Prop 38 must be made available to California patients at a 20% discount below the national average.
Real Stories About Immunology
Our Coalition
Over 70 leading groups urge YES on Prop 38
What are Immunology and Immunotherapies?
Immunology is the field of medical science focused on understanding the immune system and its role in preventing and treating diseases. By supporting immunology research and the development of innovative immunotherapies for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and heart disease, Prop 38 could save your life and the life of someone you love.
What Prop 38 Supporters Are Saying
-
“Hope is powered by science, and the scientific opportunities in front of us have never been greater. Prop 38 will help accelerate research that turns discoveries into breakthroughs for people living with Parkinson’s and many other diseases. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is proud to support Prop 38 and encourages Californians to vote YES in November.”
-
"The Parkinson Association of Northern California supports Prop 38 because it drives disease-modifying research focused on slowing or stopping Parkinson’s, not just managing its symptoms. This work advances our understanding of the gut-immune-brain connection, where the disease may originate, and holds real potential to save lives.”
-
"Blood Cancer United strongly supports Prop 38. This measure will strengthen California’s research and clinical trial infrastructure, helping patients access cutting-edge therapies sooner while accelerating the search for cures."
-
"Immunotherapy saved my life — I was just weeks away from losing my life when a breakthrough treatment gave me a second chance. That’s why I’m proud to support Prop 38, because no one should be told hope is out of reach when we have the science to save them."
-
"We believe California should lead the nation in science funding, and Prop 38 is a prime example of how strategic investment can improve the health outcomes of all Californians."
-
"Prop 38 is an important part of the equation to help close the gap in health outcomes for black Californians and other vulnerable communities."
Prop 38 Frequently Asked Questions
A YES vote on Prop 38 means California will invest $8.4 billion in breakthrough immunology research at California universities and nonprofit research institutions to find cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and other devastating diseases in our lifetime. Prop 38 is designed to pay for itself, with 10% of proceeds from resulting treatments returned to the state, and California patients will get a 20% discount on the cures it helps create. A NO vote means California keeps waiting on uncertain federal research funding while patients and families wait for cures.
Copy link for this answerCopied!Medical research funded by Prop 38 will be conducted here in California at leading universities and medical research institutions that are well-qualified to conduct breakthrough immunology and immunotherapy research.
That may include University of California campuses, such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and UC Riverside; private non-profit universities, such as Stanford, USC and Caltech; and non-profit research institutions such as City of Hope, Cedars-Sinai, and Sanford Burnham Prebys, among others.
No bond funds can be awarded to pharmaceutical companies or other for-profit corporations.
Copy link for this answerCopied!Yes. Any cure or immunotherapy developed through research funded by Prop 38 must be made available to California patients at a 20% discount below the national average. That affordability protection is written directly into the measure — it’s not optional.
Copy link for this answerCopied!Prop 38 is designed to fully pay for itself with no cost to the state or taxpayers. Ten percent (10%) of all proceeds from the licensing of immunotherapies must be returned to the State of California to offset the total cost of the bond measure, including interest. Furthermore, preventing and curing the most pressing diseases will reduce long-term healthcare expenses and save families and the state tens of billions of dollars in avoided medical expenses.
Copy link for this answerCopied!Prop 38 includes strong accountability and transparency requirements, including limiting state administrative costs to run the program to no more than 2%, requiring all grant funds to nonprofit universities and research centers be spent directly on medical research, rigorous conflict of interest rules, public disclosure of all spending and independent financial audits.
Copy link for this answerCopied!