Election outcome boosts embryonic stem cell work

[Coexist]

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - The religious protesters are gone and expansion plans are back on track at a top Kansas City stem-cell research lab after Missouri voters endorsed the controversial field in last week's elections.

With some $2 billion in private funding, and a team of international scientists already at work, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research now sees mostly clear sailing as it seeks stem-cell treatments for illnesses ranging from Alzheimer's disease to multiple sclerosis.

Passage of the amendment to the state constitution was a turning point, supporters say, as voters across the United States elected stem-cell research proponents and shifted political power in Washington away from Republicans and President Bush, a chief opponent of the research.

"We're all optimistic. This demonstrates that elected representatives do not have to be held hostage by a minority of conservatives on the religious right," said Stowers CEO William Neaves, whose wife has Parkinson's disease.

more good news...

[Hav]

1. .

Your added emphasis puts it right.
I hope we can find cures as fast as possible. It's absolutely worth it to fund it.

Oh, and again, thank you Michael J. Fox.

[evlbstrd]

2. Missouri is now poised

to become the stem cell research capitol of the nation, if not the world, thanks to Stowers and the voters. We've come a long way, baby!

[Coexist]

3. let's hope things progress fast

and science is able to help people with these debilitating conditions.

[evlbstrd]

4. They lost a lot of time.

Stowers was reluctant to go forward for quite a while as the political situation was so questionable. But now it's full speed ahead.