Illinois Invites Missouri Stem Cell Researchers to State

Aug. 28–Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has extended an invitation to some of Missouri’s leading scientific institutions to conduct controversial stem cell research in his state.

The invitation was issued as Missouri legislators are debating whether to ban stem cell research — a debate likely to continue in a scheduled special session next month.

“We encourage you to explore the possibility of moving to Illinois and leveraging our great research institutions, where many of your colleagues have found the freedom to explore the promise of stem cell research and its potential application for many of society’s most debilitating diseases,” reads, in part, a letter that Blagojevich is expected to mail today to scores of scientists and researchers in Missouri.

Some of the facilities on the mailing list include Washington University, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the Academy of Science for St. Louis and universities and hospitals in the Kansas City area.

Last month, Blagojevich authorized $10 million in state grants over the next year for research on stem cells, including those harvested from human embryos.

In the wake of the Bush administration’s restrictions on federal funding of the research, Illinois became the fourth state in the nation to publicly fund it, joining California, New Jersey and Connecticut.

California voters last year approved a $3 billion bond issue to build facilities and fund the research for 10 years.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said the governor hopes to expand the funds available in future years.

“We’ll see what kind of grant applications we get and where the money goes,” she said.

Opponents of embryonic stem cell research argue that the procedure involves killing a tiny, yet nonetheless human, life. They also contend that adult stem cells are equally promising.

Those opponents include Missouri Right To Life, which has assailed Gov. Matt Blunt for his support of the controversial research.

Right to Life asserts that Blunt misled Missouri voters about his stem cell position during last year’s campaign. Blunt denies that he did.

In his letter, Blagojevich alluded to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City. Directors at the facility said they would delay a $300 million expansion until they were assured that there would be no attempts to criminalize the process used to create new stem cell lines, called therapeutic cloning.

“Scientists in Missouri, for instance, have been forced to halt all recruiting and funding efforts for the Stowers Institute as the issue is debated,” Blagojevich wrote. “By making this new public funding available here, Illinois has become one of the nation’s leaders in providing resources for stem cell research.”

Dr. Steven L. Teitelbaum, professor of pathology and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, said that “what we are looking at here is the consequences of there being no firm federal policy, so there is no governance of stem cell research.” Responsibility for governance of the research, therefore, reverts to the states, he said.

“Proposition 71 in California is a perfect example of this,” Teitelbaum said.

That proposition, passed by almost 60 percent of California voters in November, provides regulation and funding of stem cell research.

“Scientists will go where the opportunities are,” Teitelbaum said.

Thus Blagojevich’s invitation “is a perfect example of what will happen to our state if aggressive laws against science are passed.”

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