13 August 2010 , No. 958
CONTENTS
UK SCIENCE POLICY
HIGHER EDUCATION
RESEARCH ETHICS
AFRICA
ASIA
EUROPE
NORTH AMERICA
INTERNATIONAL
UK SCIENCE POLICY
1 A geneticist in the House
An interview with Julian Huppert, the only current MP to have worked in scientific research, reveals his frustrations over many MPs' lack of concern for evidence and his own fears about potential cuts in research funding. Huppert admits that the lack of other MPs with science backgrounds means it is inevitable that he will be seen as a leading advocate for science in Parliament, despite having many other political interests and a desire to avoid being 'pigeonholed'.
THE 1960 12 August 2010 p.20
2 Brown's promises on global health are safe, says coalition
Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary, has countered claims that the Government is set to withdraw from the funding commitments to programmes for global maternal health and combating malaria that were made by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Concerns were raised over a leaked document which suggested that there were "new ministerial priorities", but Mitchell has insisted that the promised funding remains intact.
Financial Times 13 August 2010 p.2
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3 Cut REF work: check the best and sample the rest
Professor John Ellis, a former subpanel member for the 2001 and 2008 Research Assessment Exercises, has suggested that the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF) should examine only a sample of university departments, to save time and expense for the institutions involved. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is seeking ways to minimise the workload associated with the process, but has emphasised its commitment to 'comprehensive' assessments.
THE 1960 12 August 2010 p.11
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4 Which way for genetic-test regulation?
A feature article and accompanying editorial set out the arguments for and against regulating direct-to-consumer genetic tests, at a time when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated it will introduce regulations for companies selling such tests. The editorial suggests the industry should develop its own best practice guidelines in addition to any formal FDA regulation.
Nature 466 12 August 2010 p.816-818, 797
See also: Nature 466 12 August 2010 p. 800
The Lancet 376 14 August 2010 p.488
Economist 396 14 August 2010 p.10-11, 49-50
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5 Africa is desperate for praziquantel
A comment article argues for wider availability of the drug praziquantel across Africa in order to combat schistosomiasis. The disease has a higher level of morbidity than malaria across the continent, with an estimated 200 million people affected.
The Lancet 376 14 August 2010 p.496-498
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6 China takes action against tuberculosis and HIV co-infection
An editorial comments on China's new national scheme for the prevention and control of tuberculosis and HIV co-infection. It argues that although it is an important first step, the scheme needs to take greater account of the needs of particular at-risk groups.
The Lancet 376 14 August 2010 p.488
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7 Yellow fever mosquito shows up in Northern Europe
The growing trend of tropical disease-carrying mosquitoes surviving outside of their natural habitats has been illustrated by the discovery in the Netherlands of colonies of rare mosquito species known to transmit yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya.
Science 329 13 August 2010 p.736
8 Power struggle hits Swedish institute
Leading scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm have accused their president, Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, of reorganizing the institute in order to extend her own control over its operations, prior to the introduction of new laws which would give more autonomy to Swedish universities.
Nature 466 12 August 2010 p.803
9 Spain finally recognises thalidomide victims
The Spanish Government has now recognised the damage caused by thalidomide during the 1960s and is prepared to pay compensation to those affected. However José Riquelme, president of the Spanish Association of Victims of Thalidomide, believes the proposed amount of compensation is insufficient and fears that many may be refused if they are unable to prove that their disability is a result of the drug.
BMJ 341 14 August 2010 p.320-321
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10 Cheap shots
An editorial criticises a new report from Republican senators John McCain and Tom Coburn, 'Summertime blues: 100 stimulus projects that give taxpayers the blues', for using 'superficial' arguments against a number of the science projects funded by last years $787 billion economic stimulus package. The author notes the importance of scrutinising such projects but argues that the report fails to appreciate the scientific reasoning behind the projects or the fact that that they have all been rigorously peer reviewed.
Nature 466 12 August 2010 p.797
11 One year at the helm
An interview with Francis Collins reflects on his first year as the Director of the US National Institutes of Health, and the impending challenge he now faces of steering the agency through a period of reduced funding, with the $10.4 billion economic stimulus package having been allocated.
Nature 466 12 August 2010 p.808-810
12 On trial: clinical research in the USA
An editorial discusses 'Transforming clinical research in the United States', a report published last week by the US Institute of Medicine, which indicated that the process of conducting clinical research is too expensive and severely hindered by weak infrastructure and regulatory burdens. The author welcomes the report's calls for greater integration of clinical research efforts across the US.
The Lancet 376 14 August 2010 p.487
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13 WHO declares swine flu pandemic officially over
An emergency committee of flu experts at WHO has declared the swine flu pandemic as having "largely run its course" and the agency has downgraded the threat posed by the virus from its highest alert level.
Guardian 11 August 2010 p.13
See also: BBC News Online 10 August 2010
New Scientist 207 14 August 2010 p.7
14 Health workers lost to international bodies in poor countries
A comment article suggests that some international, research and non-governmental organisations may be having an adverse affect on national health services in developing countries, by offering local health workers better salaries and working conditions.
The Lancet 376 14 August 2010 p.498-499
15 The politics of pain
An article discusses the lack of accessibility of pain relief medication in the developing world. Despite WHO guidelines declaring the need for powerful opioid analgesics, approximately 150 countries have severe restrictions on the use of morphine, forcing patients to use less effective opioids such as codeine. The article highlights steps that are being taken to improve accessibility to the drugs.
BMJ 341 14 August 2010 p.328-330
16 Time to act: a call for comprehensive responses to HIV in people who use drugs
A research article reviews the available evidence on the prevention and control of HIV in drug users, and calls for concerted action to scale-up combined programmes of treatment, prevention and care. It also highlights the need for greater advocacy on behalf of healthcare professionals to protect the human rights of those using drugs.
The Lancet 376 14 August 2010 p.551-563
17 The great giveaway
With Bill Gates and Warren Buffet convincing 40 of their fellow American billionaires to sign up to a 'Giving Pledge' and publicly declare their intention to donate "the majority" of their wealth to good causes, an article explores the possible impacts - both positive and negative - of this "new philanthropy".
Sunday Times 8 August 2010 p.14
18 Title takes on provocative role
The University of Buckingham Press is set to launch 'Hypotheses in the Life Sciences', a new journal which will seek to publish controversial papers in biology which have not undergone a peer review process. The journal launch comes after the publisher Elsevier's decision earlier this year to impose peer review on 'Medical Hypothesis', following its inclusion of controversial papers on links between HIV and AIDS.
THE 1960 12 August 2010 p.13
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