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Eight months ago, Missouri seemed well on its way to becoming a national leader in stem cell research. Voters amended the state's constitution to protect stem cell research -- even the controversial form using cells from human embryos. Actor Michael J. Fox appeared in TV ads, visibly shaking from Parkinson's disease as he sought votes for stem cell supporter Claire McCaskill in her bid for the U.S. Senate.
Now the spotlight is all but gone after a research institute and lawmakers withdrew financial support.
"Things are obviously not moving forward," said state Sen. Chuck Graham, a Democrat who backed the amendment in November. "Right now, you can't tell the amendment passed. People are running in the opposite direction. It's incredibly frustrating."
Some researchers even fear the techniques known as therapeutic cloning could still be outlawed in Missouri.
Scientist Kevin Eggan had once considered packing up his lab at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and moving to Missouri. Now he's reluctant.
"I couldn't possibly come to a place where I thought the potentially lifesaving research I want to do could become...