James E. Stowers
Encyclopedia
James E. Stowers, Jr. also known as Jim Stowers, is the founder of American Century Investments
and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
, the son and grandson of medical doctors, Stowers graduated from Kemper Military School
in Boonville, Missouri
. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri
, where he also completed a two-year degree in medicine. He joined the Army Air Corps
where he became a fighter pilot and gunnery instructor. Upon his return to civilian life in 1945, he enlisted in the Air Force Reserves and served as a captain until resigning his commission in 1957. Stowers entered the business world, after deciding not to become a doctor like his father and grandfather. After a stint selling mutual funds for Kansas-based Waddell & Reed, he founded a term life insurance firm – J.E. Stowers and Company.
. Stowers started the funds in 1958 with just $107,000 in assets from 24 shareholders. He built his business concentrating on small investors. The company changed its name to American Century Investments
in 2000. American Century's headquarters are located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, Missouri
, near the Country Club Plaza
, and employs around 1,600 people.
The Institute funds scientists who conduct basic research on the genes and proteins that control the fundamental processes of living cells. The Institute opened its doors in November 2000. By 2006, there were 20 independent research programs plus core facilities in bioinformatics
, proteomics
, microarray
, molecular biology
, and imaging. In total, there were around 300 scientists, research associates, technicians, and support staff.
Stowers is providing $5.9 million over five years to the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, as well as supporting the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital
. In 2005, Stowers said that he and his wife were supporting research at Harvard rather than in Missouri because of fears that the Missouri legislature would ban stem cell
research. In 2006, Missouri voters passed the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative by a slim margin.
American Century Investments
American Century Investments is a privately-controlled and independent investment management firm that has focused on delivering superior investment performance and building client relationships for more than 50 years. Its headquarters are located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, near the...
and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
Biography
Born and raised in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, the son and grandson of medical doctors, Stowers graduated from Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School & College was a private military school located in Boonville, Missouri. Kemper filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2002. The school's motto was "Nunquam Non Paratus" .-Early years under Frederick T. Kemper:...
in Boonville, Missouri
Boonville, Missouri
This page is about the city in Missouri. For other communities of the same name, see Boonville Boonville is a city in Cooper County, Missouri, USA. The population was 8,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cooper County. The city was the site of a skirmish early in the American Civil...
. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, where he also completed a two-year degree in medicine. He joined the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
where he became a fighter pilot and gunnery instructor. Upon his return to civilian life in 1945, he enlisted in the Air Force Reserves and served as a captain until resigning his commission in 1957. Stowers entered the business world, after deciding not to become a doctor like his father and grandfather. After a stint selling mutual funds for Kansas-based Waddell & Reed, he founded a term life insurance firm – J.E. Stowers and Company.
American Century Investments
In 1958, Stowers started Twentieth Century Mutual Funds, a family of no-load funds, in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. Stowers started the funds in 1958 with just $107,000 in assets from 24 shareholders. He built his business concentrating on small investors. The company changed its name to American Century Investments
American Century Investments
American Century Investments is a privately-controlled and independent investment management firm that has focused on delivering superior investment performance and building client relationships for more than 50 years. Its headquarters are located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, near the...
in 2000. American Century's headquarters are located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, near the Country Club Plaza
Country Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza is an upscale shopping district and residential neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It was the first shopping center in the world designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by automobile...
, and employs around 1,600 people.
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
In 1994, Stowers and his wife Virginia Stowers, both cancer survivors, founded the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a $2 billion biomedical research facility also located in Kansas City.The Institute funds scientists who conduct basic research on the genes and proteins that control the fundamental processes of living cells. The Institute opened its doors in November 2000. By 2006, there were 20 independent research programs plus core facilities in bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
, proteomics
Proteomics
Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, as they are the main components of the physiological metabolic pathways of cells. The term "proteomics" was first coined in 1997 to make an analogy with...
, microarray
Microarray
A microarray is a multiplex lab-on-a-chip. It is a 2D array on a solid substrate that assays large amounts of biological material using high-throughput screening methods.Types of microarrays include:...
, molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
, and imaging. In total, there were around 300 scientists, research associates, technicians, and support staff.
Stowers is providing $5.9 million over five years to the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, as well as supporting the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
. In 2005, Stowers said that he and his wife were supporting research at Harvard rather than in Missouri because of fears that the Missouri legislature would ban stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
research. In 2006, Missouri voters passed the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative by a slim margin.