Stem cell research critics refile lawsuit to block funding of life science research

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri stem cell research critics have resurrected a lawsuit to block $21 million from going to life sciences research.

Last month a Cole County judge tossed out the group's initial lawsuit while ruling there was no genuine legal dispute. The amended suit contends there is and questions whether there is legal authority to disburse the research grants.

At issue is money budgeted by lawmakers to flow from the state Life Sciences Research Trust Fund as individual research grants. The money cannot be used for abortion services and human cloning.

But stem cell research critics contend those research limits were trumped by a 2006 constitutional amendment endorsing embryonic stem cell research. The lawsuit contends that without the restrictions on what kind of research can be funded, the trust fund no longer exists.