YES on Prop 38

Immunology Medical Research & Cures Initiative

Proposition 38 on the 2026 California ballot will provide vitally needed funding 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.

Get the Facts on Prop 38

Real Stories About Prop 38

0:30

Federal funding cuts are threatening life-saving medical research. That’s why doctors, nurses and leading patient groups, including The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the ALS Association and Alzheimer’s organizations, urge YES on Prop 38. Prop 38 supports immunology research to cure and prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease and other devastating diseases.

Read the transcript

“Federal funding cuts are threatening life-saving research for cures. That’s why doctors, nurses and leading patient groups all urge YES on Prop 38. Prop 38 supports life-saving immunology research to cure and prevent diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and heart disease. Join The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the ALS Association and Alzheimer’s organizations. Vote YES. Yes. Yes. Yes on Prop 38. Prop 38 could save your life or the life of someone you love.”

0:31

Patient Story: A Breakthrough Immunotherapy Saved Andrew’s Life

For Andrew Dale, a cancer diagnosis could have been a death sentence. Immunology saved Andrew’s life and gave him the chance to watch his daughter graduate high school. Join Andrew in supporting Prop 38 to continue life-saving immunotherapy research to prevent and cure devastating diseases.

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Andrew Dale, cancer survivor: “When I was diagnosed with cancer, it should have been a death sentence. Twenty, thirty years ago, it would have been. Immunotherapy saved my life. There is no doubt about it. Seeing my daughter graduate from high school — that never would have occurred if it was not for immunotherapies. The immunotherapy work from Prop 38 will ensure that more patients with cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s, heart disease will be treated and will find that cure that I’ve been fortunate to have. Yes on Prop 38.”

Caregiver Story: Viva’s Hope for an Alzheimer’s Cure

Viva Mogi’s mom has lived with Alzheimer’s for over a decade. Viva and her family hold onto hope for new treatments and a cure. Prop 38 will advance immunology research to develop life-saving treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s and other debilitating diseases, bringing hope to millions of California families.

Read the transcript

“There’s nothing like watching your parent deteriorate from Alzheimer’s. Prop 38 is hope for millions. Prop 38 accelerates medical research to cure devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s. Please join caregivers and Alzheimer’s organizations. Vote yes on 38.”

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Our Prop 38 Coalition

Over 70 leading groups urge YES on Prop 38

*Partial list View Supporters List

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.

Learn about Cures in our Lifetime

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.”

    Dan Feehan
    Chief Policy and Government Affairs Officer
    The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

  • "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.”

    Jan Whitney, Executive Director
    Parkinson Association of Northern California

  • "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."

    Adam Zarrin, Director of State Gov. Affairs
    Blood Cancer United

  • "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."

    Laurie Adami
    Laurie Adami
    Cancer Pioneer and Patient Advocate

  • "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."

    Dr. Margaret Hitchcock, Ph.D., President
    California Colorectal Cancer Coalition

  • "Prop 38 is an important part of the equation to help close the gap in health outcomes for black Californians and other vulnerable communities."

    Rhonda Smith, Executive Director
    California Black Health Network
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Titles and affiliations are for identification purposes only.

Prop 38 Frequently Asked Questions

A YES vote on Prop 38 means California will support $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 the licensing of immunotherapies developed from Prop 38 funding returned to the state. Additionally, California patients will get a 20% discount on the cures it helps create.

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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 funds from Prop 38 can be awarded to pharmaceutical companies or other for-profit corporations.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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