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the Stem Cell Page time and ignorance are the enemies |
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Why I support Amendment 2 |
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By Jake Zimmerman
Editor’s note: Jake Zimmerman is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and Harvard Law School. He served in the Washington, D.C office of Dick Gephardt, was a White House intern, served as a Missouri Assistant Attorney General, and as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to former Missouri Governor Bob Holden. Jake currently practices law with Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis, but will soon be taking on his new duties - he’s the State Representative-elect for Missouri’s 83rd district.
October 11, 2006
Recently, I took a trip to Columbia, Missouri to knock on doors for another candidate for State Representative, running a tough race against a conservative Republican. As my campaign manager and I returned to St. Louis, we noticed a billboard that insinuated that the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative was nothing but an attempt to profit from human cloning, and I was reminded of the incredible amount of disinformation that some are apparently willing to promote in pursuit of their goals.
That crudely-written billboard reminded me of my obligation – as a candidate and as a citizen – to speak out and speak up about one of the most important issues to face the people of Missouri in years. And so, after promising to write something for the Stem Cell Page, today I stopped promising and started writing. I can, at least, thank the opposition for that much.
Stem cell research - and especially embryonic stem cell research - is incredibly important to our community and our state. It has the potential to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Missouri children and adults, reduce or eliminate human suffering, and change the face of medicine as we know it. “Stem cell research has the potential to lead to new treatments and cures for diseases and injuries that affect children of all ages, such as diabetes, leukemia, spinal cord injury, sickle cell disease and cancer,” said well-known Missouri pediatrician Dr. F. Sessions Cole, Director of Newborn Medicine at St. Louis Children's Hospital. “We must pass this measure to ensure that our children and all Missouri patients will have access to those cures.”
While stem cell research could possibly cure any number of diseases like, ALS (Lou Gerhig’s disease), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s and more, it can also bring substantial economic benefits to our community. Many of our friends and neighbors are employed by private and public-sector entities whose success is intimately tied to the confidence that they can pursue this vital research without threat of harassment or prosecution. In my view, those who would threaten the economic lifeblood of this community in pursuit of a narrow ideological agenda are both wrong and shortsighted.
While visiting Kansas City in August, I got a tour of the Stowers Institute and saw, first hand, how 2.2 billion dollars can be wisely invested. With 10 acres, 600,000 square feet of research space and 300 million dollars worth of equipment, (all from one private donation) this is more than a research facility. It is an economic engine. More to the point, it is an engine that will pull out of the state if this Amendment does not pass. And that is on top of the work that will be done at Washington University, the University of Missouri, and many other enterprises in Missouri.
At base, however, the most important reason why I support the Initiative has nothing whatsoever to do with economics. I have seen too many family members and friends suffer from diseases that might well be curable with experimental therapies and new treatments brought on by stem cell research.
Recently, I lost my kind, wonderful, and incredibly brave Aunt Jane after her long battle with a rare form of leukemia known as multiple myeloma. Her last hope for survival was a stem cell therapy. If, some day soon, even one person like my aunt is able to live because of the kind of research we could be doing right here in Missouri, then that is reason enough for me to enthusiastically support Amendment Two.
You may not have known my Aunt Jane. But odds are very good that you have a close friend or family member directly affected by a disease whose cure may be found in embryonic stem cell research. As Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, a sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act said, “Stem cell research could potentially be the scientific advance that takes the practice of medicine not just to the next level, but to five or ten levels above and beyond.”
As a candidate for office, I have been actively promoting Amendment 2, the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, and encouraging others to do the same. I encourage all readers of the Stem Cell Page and all Missouri’s interested citizens to promote, protect, and strengthen the ability of Missourians to perform this vital scientific research.
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Jake Zimmerman State Rep - elect, Missouri 83rd district |
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I Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research |
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