Kansas City, Mo. (June 20, 2006) – The Stowers Institute for Medical Research has resumed preliminary planning for a slated 2009 expansion. Earlier planning was halted in the face of persistent legislative threats to criminalize important forms of stem cell research deemed critical to the Institute’s mission of conducting world-class biomedical research.

     Planned expansion will occur only if Missouri voters approve the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative to protect early stem cell research, treatments, and cures that are legal under federal law. The Initiative is expected to appear on the November 2006 ballot (see www.MissouriCures.com for more information).

     “Early signs of support for the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Ballot Initiative, including submission of nearly double the number of signatures required to appear on the ballot, have given the Institute’s Board of Directors sufficient confidence to resume the planning phase of the Institute’s first expansion,” said Richard W. Brown, Co-Chair of the Institute’s Board of Directors. “We’re moving ahead cautiously, balancing our need for additional research space in 2008 with our commitment to ensuring that future expansions of the Institute are located in jurisdictions with proactive protection for early stem cell research.”

     The Stowers Institute opened its 600,000 square-foot facility in November of 2000 with the expectation of adding 600,000 square-feet of research space every decade in perpetuity. Successful recruiting efforts will bring the current facility to its 550-person capacity by the end of 2008, two years ahead of schedule.

     The expansion is expected to occur on the Institute’s current campus. Additional details about the logistics of the project will be released pending approval of the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Ballot Initiative in November.

About the Stowers Institute
     Housed in a 600,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility on a 10-acre campus in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research conducts basic research on fundamental processes of cellular life. Through its commitment to collaborative research and the use of cutting-edge technology, the Institute seeks more effective means of preventing and curing disease. The Institute was founded by Jim and Virginia Stowers, two cancer survivors who have created combined endowments of $2 billion in support of basic research of the highest quality.