Governors' economic development conference renews commitment to life sciences in KC

"They are supportive of responsible scientific research and allowing research that the federal government allows in our state," Blunt said. "I am hopeful we will get to a sense of stability and it will be clear that this sort of early stem-cell research is indeed protected in our state."

The embryonic stem-cell research issue commanded attention as Blunt gathered for the third consecutive year with Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and about 200 of the area's top executives and civic leaders.

Sebelius, a Democrat, praised Blunt, a Republican, as being a great partner who had been a strong advocate for fashioning Kansas City into a life sciences research hub. Sebelius said it was a critical factor that Missouri voters should consider as they select a successor to Blunt, who recently announced he would not run for a second term.

"Reminding folks in this area that anything they could do to make sure the next governor of Missouri shares this very strong commitment is a key issue," Sebelius said.

Don J. Hall Jr., president and chief executive officer of Hallmark Cards; Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint Nextel Corp.; John Bluford, president and CEO of Truman Medical Centers; and Gary Forsee, the former top executive at Sprint who is about to take charge as president of the four-campus University of Missouri system, were among more than a dozen executives and academic leaders making presentations during the three-hour event.

They focused on growth opportunities and the need to address serious challenges hindering advances in the life sciences, the development of a highly skilled work force, efforts to make high-quality health care available to more people and energy practices that protect the environment.

All of these issues are key concerns to the area's major employers, said Hesse, a co-convener of this year's gathering who also is to be the convener of the 2009 governors' summit.

Hesse drew enthusiastic applause for his announcement earlier in the week that Sprint had brought its corporate headquarters back from Reston, Va., to Overland Park.

"That was a demonstration of the faith and commitment we have to this region," Hesse said.

Throughout the three-hour event, the biosciences continued to be touted as one of the region's most promising sources of high-quality jobs and lifesaving breakthroughs. With three area medical schools, the Stowers Institute for Medical Researchand dozens of animal health and life sciences companies, the region boasts a substantial foundation.

Ongoing debate over embryonic stem-cell research, however, is threatening expansion of key research organizations and limiting more aggressive support of various life sciences initiatives in Missouri, an increasing number of business leaders, legislators and others have said in recent months.

In 2006, Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment that offered state protection for any form of stem-cell research allowed by federal law.

Researchers think embryonic stem cells are master cells that hold the potential to cure devastating diseases and heal severe injuries. They start as blank slates but can become any cell or tissue type in the body.

But methods commonly used to derive the cells involve the destruction of embryos, which has drawn objections from opponents raising ethical concerns.

An organization called Missouri Cures Without Cloning is pursuing a campaign to impose limitations on the protections that state voters approved with the 2006 constitutional amendment. A call after Friday's summit to a spokesman for the organization was not immediately returned, nor were calls to officials with Missouri Right to Life.

Many of the region's voters will continue attempting to influence the political process because of beliefs that certain forms of embryonic stem-cell research are unethical, Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life and former president of a similar group in Missouri, said in an interview earlier this week.

"We don't include cloning or creating and killing embryos on purpose as being ethical," Culp said.

It is this sort of sentiment that has left Stowers Institute leaders wary of moving ahead with the construction of a second major research campus in Kansas City.

Mutual fund magnate Jim Stowers and his wife, Virginia, both cancer survivors, have devoted their personal fortune of some $2 billion to the creation of the institute. Their vision includes the creation of a BioMed Valley of research laboratories and biotech companies in the Kansas City area.

"In spite of political challenges to the mission of the institute here in Kansas City, its research is thriving," Bill Neaves, president and CEO of the institute, said in his presentation at the summit.

The potential of restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research has hindered the institute's recruiting of scientists and caused concern about whether it will be allowed to pursue some of the most promising avenues of research.

"We do need your help," Neaves said. "Help us maintain a science-friendly state in both Kansas and Missouri."

Goals among the 'Commitment to Action' Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt concluded Friday's economic development summit by signing a "Commitment to Action" that included these provisions: Continue to lead efforts to achieve a level of accessibility to health care that exceeds the national average. Ensure that both states maintain and develop an environment conducive to creating lifesaving cures from medical research. Establish Greater Kansas City as a medical destination that provides accessibility to the highest quality of medical services. Endorse legislation to encourage and reward utilities and people involved in energy efficiency and sustainability. Support efforts to bolster students' proficiency in mathematics and science, increase the number of math and science teachers, and raise the number of college graduates in certain technology fields.

To reach Jason Gertzen, call 816-234-4899 or send e-mail to jgertzen@kcstar.com