Kansas City, Mo. ? In response to the continuing debate in Missouri over early stem cell research, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research has created a new organization to fund such research in other states.

The first employees of the new Stowers Medical Institute will be Kevin Eggan, a principal faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and several members of his lab. They will receive nearly $6 million from Stowers.

“We had to incorporate a separate entity and create a new medical research organization because of the attempts to criminalize stem cell research in Missouri,” said David Welte, general counsel for the Stowers Institute.

Supporters of early stem cell research say it could eventually lead to cures for such diseases as Parkinson’s or diabetes. But critics object to a process used to derive early stem cells, called somatic cell nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning.

In that process, the nucleus of an unfertilized egg is replaced with the nucleus of a cell from another body part. Stem cells are harvested after the egg is stimulated to grow.

Opponents contend the procedure destroys human life.

Stowers has tried to recruit Eggan to the Kansas City-based institute for two years, but he has declined because of debate in the Missouri Legislature over therapeutic cloning.

Eggan specializes in researching how stem cells work. His team has used early stem cells to mimic diseases to better understand how they progress. Eggan also is known for his work in therapeutic cloning.

Eggan said he was impressed with the work being done at Stowers and considered moving to Kansas City but could not take a chance that performing experiments in a Missouri laboratory could eventually mean he and other researchers would be considered criminals.

“That is the primary barrier,” Eggan said. “No question.”

Donn Rubin, chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, said Eggan’s decision shows how uncertainty about stem cell research in Missouri could reduce the state’s chances of being a major player in the promising field.

The coalition wants Missouri voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would protect stem cell research and any therapy it produces.

Jim Stowers Jr., and his wife, Virginia, who founded the Stowers Institute, say they funded the new medical research organization to support early stem cell work, at least until Missouri voters have a chance to vote on the proposed constitutional amendment.

“Virginia and I are committed to supporting the most promising biomedical research in the world,” Stowers said in a written statement.

Researchers at the Stowers Institute in Kansas City are working with somatic cell nuclear transfer using animal cells and on other forms of stem cell research, though none are working with human early stem cells.

Opponents of stem cell research say Missouri’s efforts to promote life sciences would not necessarily be harmed if the state imposes restrictions on stem cell research.

“You do not have to do unethical research in order to move forward to find cures for diseases,” said Susan Klein, Missouri Right to Life’s legislative liaison.

Klein said many Missourians would object if the Stowers Institute did research with early stem cells.

“If they want to pursue research in Missouri that does not destroy human life, human embryos, then obviously they will have the support of Missourians,” Klein said.

Rubin disagreed.

“When Missourians get the facts about what stem-cell research is about and its incredible promise for curing disease, they will insist that their state be involved in pursuing those cures,” Rubin said.