Even though the federal government, under the policies of President George Bush, has restricted funding on embryonic stem cell research, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Illinois are moving ahead with state funding of stem cell research. New York lobbyists are asking New York to join the other states in funding this politically controversial research. Roswell Park Cancer Institute's president Dr. David C. Hohn, and other state research and medical institutions, wants New York to approve embryonic stem cell research funding, and hopes to see the state funding placed under a broader umbrella of biomedical research. Research would be monitored by a committee of scientists, to ensure ethical practices and standards. Supporters of embryonic stem cell research believe this research can lead to cures in cancer, and a variety of diseases, that currently have resisted traditional research breakthroughs.

Profit, philanthropy and politics are the foundation for the joining of forces between Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion, and Jim Stowers, Jr, mutual fund magnate. Armstrong will join American Century Investments in a multimillion-dollar advertising and marketing campaign featuring Armstrong as the spokesperson for the company's  newest  series of mutual funds, appropriately named Livestrong Portfolios, using Armstrong Foundation’s “Livestrong” slogan for cancer survivors. The American Century Investments campaign slogan featuring Armstrong is “Put Your Lance Face On.” Both Armstrong and Stowers are cancer survivors.

Armstrong is a testicular cancer survivor, who founded the Lance Armstrong and Livestrong Foundation, to address the special issues of cancer survivorship through education, advocacy, public health and research programs. Stowers and his wife, Virginia, are cancer survivors who founded the Stowers Institute for Medical Research for biomedical research. Both Armstrong and Stowers support stem-cell research, a hotly-debated political issue, and indicated that together, they may be involved in the protection and advancement of this research.