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Missouri certifies Stem Cell Initiative for ballot

ST. LOUIS, August 8, 2006 – The coalition of patient groups, medical organizations, Missouri patients and other citizens supporting the Missouri Stem Cell Initiative were pleased by today’s announcement that the measure has been certified to be placed on the November statewide ballot. The Secretary of State confirmed that supporters had gathered more than enough voter signatures to qualify the measure for a public vote and said it will appear as Amendment 2 on the ballot.

“We’re extremely pleased that Missourians will be able to decide for themselves if they want to protect their right to access the same stem cell research and cures as other Americans,” said Donn Rubin, Chairman of Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. “Some politicians in Jefferson City have repeatedly tried to take away that right, by proposing legislation that would ban and criminalize promising types of stem cell research and cures in Missouri. The Stem Cell Initiative will prevent any such unfair bans. It will protect the right of Missourians to have access to any stem cell research and cures that are allowed in our country and available to other Americans.”

More than 100 patient, medical, interfaith and civic organizations have joined the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures to show their support for the Stem Cell Initiative. Nearly 60,000 Missouri citizens – including more than 2,000 medical doctors and other health care professionals – have also joined, making the coalition the largest of its kind ever formed to support a ballot initiative in the state.

Organizational members of the coalition include the Missouri State Medical Association, St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Society, Mound City Medical Forum, Heartland Health, American Diabetes Association, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Christopher Reeve Foundation, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, National Parkinson Foundation, Society for Women’s Health Research, Sickle Cell Disease Association of Kansas City, Buchanan County Medical Society, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Washington University in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine.

"The Stem Cell Initiative will ensure that Missouri’s families have access to any treatments and cures discovered through medical research and allowed under federal law," said M. Marie Davis, Executive Director, Metro St. Louis/Greater Missouri Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "Medical researchers throughout the country are actively pursuing promising research involving both adult stem cells and early, or embryonic, stem cells. Both types of stem cells have their own unique potential to provide cures for different diseases and injuries, such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, ALS, cancer, heart disease and paralysis. Research is hope, and Missouri's best institutions should be allowed to continue their work on behalf of all Missouri families."

Additional information about the Stem Cell Initiative is available online at www.MissouriCures.com.

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