the Stem Cell Page

time and ignorance are the enemies

288,000 Missouri voters signed Stem Cell Research petition

Placement on November ballot virtually assured as Coalition submits twice the required signatures

 

May 1, 2006

ST. LOUIS, MO -- The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures today submitted to the Secretary of State far more than enough signatures needed to place the Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative on the November statewide ballot.

"Our coalition of patient and medical groups proposed the Stem Cell Initiative so voters could decide for themselves if they want Missourians to have equal access to any stem cell research and cures allowed under federal law," said Donn Rubin, Chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. "Over the past several months, 288,991 Missouri citizens signed petitions to allow a public vote on this important measure, which is nearly twice as many signatures as required. We also more than met the signature requirements in seven Congressional Districts, one more district than is needed to qualify a measure for the ballot. We are very grateful for the strong support shown by the people of Missouri."

Medical researchers believe that stem cell research could lead to new treatments or cures for diseases that afflict hundreds of thousands of Missouri children and adults and millions of other Americans, including diabetes, Parkinson's, MS, cancer, heart disease, ALS, sickle cell disease and spinal cord injury. However, some Missouri politicians have repeatedly tried to pass state laws that would ban and criminalize promising types of stem cell research in Missouri – and actually prohibit Missouri patients from having access to future stem cell cures. Voter approval of the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative will prevent such bans.

The Initiative will make it clear in our state constitution that any stem cell research, therapies and cures allowed under federal law will continue to be allowed in Missouri. It also establishes clear ethical boundaries and oversight guidelines for stem cell research conducted in Missouri – including a strict ban on any attempt to clone a human being.

The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, which was formed to support the Initiative, includes over 46,000 individual Missouri citizens and 50 leading patient and medical organizations, such as the American Association for Cancer Research, American Diabetes Association, Christopher Reeve Foundation, Hereditary Disease Foundation, Jack Orchard ALS Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Lance Armstrong Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Council on Spinal Cord Injury, National Parkinson Foundation, National Prostate Cancer Coalition, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, the University of Missouri and Washington University in St. Louis.

"Opponents of stem cell research are conducting a misinformation campaign to try to mislead and confuse people about the Stem Cell Initiative, and they've done everything they can to try to keep Missourians from voting on it," said Rubin, "but as shown by our successful signature gathering effort, public polls and recent court decisions upholding the Initiative’s ballot summary, most people see through their deceptive tactics. The majority of Missourians support the Stem Cell Initiative and agree that Missouri patients, doctors and researchers should have equal access to any stem cell research and cures that are allowed under federal law and available to other Americans."

More information about the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative and the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is available on the Coalition's website at www.MissouriCures.com.

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