Does the Missouri Constitution create any other restrictions or requirements for stem cell research?
Yes. In addition to banning any attempt to clone a human being, the Stem Cell Amendment of the Missouri Constitution sets several other responsible boundaries and requirements for stem cell research. For example, it requires early stem cell (ES) research to be overseen and approved by an oversight committee that includes medical experts and members of the public. It requires the research to be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) of scientific experts to ensure compliance with all applicable scientific, ethical and safety requirements in federal laws and regulations. It requires researchers to provide annual reports to the public on the research they are conducting. And, it includes other guidelines designed to protect the safety, rights and privacy of patients and people who voluntarily donate human cells for early stem cell research.
