21 AUGUST 2009, No. 911
CONTENTS
HIGHER EDUCATION
HEALTH POLICY
RESEARCH ETHICS
AFRICA
ASIA
AUSTRALASIA
EUROPEAN UNION
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
INTERNATIONAL
HIGHER EDUCATION
1 Parallel REF tests cause concern
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is running a pilot exercise to examine how research impact might be assessed under the new Research Excellence Framework (REF). The pilot will run alongside a consultation on the Framework that will also consider proposals for assessing the economic and social impact of research - raising questions about how the pilot will inform the development of the Framework.
THE 1910 20 August 2009 p.13
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2 90% of 'swine flu' patients do not have the infection
Although the number of deaths from swine flu in the UK has risen to 59, the rate of new infections has slowed considerably. An estimated 11,000 new cases of H1N1 virus were diagnosed last week, with only one in ten people contacting the Pandemic Flu Service found to be infected. While it is not possible to predict when a second wave might occur, the Chief Medical Officer is hopeful that it may not be until the Christmas period, allowing time for a vaccination programme.
Times 21 August 2009 p.19
See also: Financial Times 18 August 2009 p.2
Guardian 18 August 2009 p.2
Daily Telegraph 20 August 2009 p.8
Independent 21 August 2009 p.6
Guardian 21 August 2009 p.11
BMJ 339 22 August 2009 p.418
3 Swine flu drug advice rejected by government
The Committee on Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Influenza advised the Government not to press ahead with widespread use of antiviral drugs, once it became clear in May that the current swine flu pandemic was relatively mild. But despite concerns this could lead to the development of resistance to Tamiflu, the Department of Health decided to continue its policy of mass prescription, preferring a "safety-first approach".
Guardian 17 August 2009 p.1-2
See also: Daily Telegraph 17 August 2009 p.6
4 Coroners urged to start testing for infection linked to BSE
Professor John Collinge, expert on variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), has claimed that the refusal by coroners to undertake post mortem tests for vCJD infection is making it more difficult to estimate the number of future sufferers of the disease. He is calling for a change in law so coroners are able to carry out these tests on a regular basis.
Daily Telegraph 20 August 2009 p.12
5 NICE set to revise Quality and Outcomes Framework indicators
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published the first set of new indicators for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) - the target-based voluntary 'pay-for-performance' scheme for UK general medical practices. NICE took over responsibility for indicators earlier in 2009, and is expected to introduce tougher targets, local flexibility and a more evidence-based process.
The Lancet 374 22 August 2009 p.588
See also: BMJ 339 22 August 2009 p.418
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6 Common consent
An editorial calls for the standardisation of consent forms for the use of human tissue to ensure consent addresses new uses and future research and development. Concerns have been highlighted because when a paper relating to pluripotent cell lines was published in 'Nature' last year, none of the cell lines were available to other researchers for verification as a result of restrictions in the consent forms.
Nature 460 20 August 2009 p.933, 1044
7 'Publish or perish' factor in spiralling retractions
A study by Thomson Reuters has found that the rate at which scientific journal articles are retracted has increased around tenfold over the past twenty years, so that of 1.4 million papers published in 2008, 95 were retracted. Improved methods of detecting fraud, and greater awareness among journal editors, are thought to be key factors in the increase.
THE 1910 20 August 2009 p.6-7, 21
8 Set your DNA free
An opinion article argues that, despite concerns about privacy, people should be more open with their genetic data because "great scientific advances never come without risk".
New Scientist 203 22 August 2009 p.22-23
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9 Children in Côte d'Ivoire get polio vaccine
The United Nations has assisted the Côte d'Ivoire Government in running a programme to vaccinate six million children against polio following the re-emergence of the previously eradicated disease last year.
BMJ 339 22 August 2009 p.418
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10 Japan election sparks science pledges
As Japan nears its national elections on 30 August, scientists are concerned that a change in power might lead to cuts in basic research spend. The opposition leader has recently tried to provide reassurance, by stating that science funding "should be expanded" and pledging to create a new 'science and technology strategy office'.
Nature 460 20 August 2009 p.938
11 Nanoparticle safety in doubt
Research published in the 'European Respiratory Journal' attributing lung damage in factory workers in China to nanomaterials has caused much debate amongst scientists. If true, the claims are the first time nanoparticles have been linked to ill health in humans, but some experts do not believe the study was able to rule out other factors.
Nature 460 20 August 2009 p.937
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12 Pandemic lessons from Australia
An article examines the spread and virulence of A/H1N1 influenza in Australia and, given that the virus hit the country during its usual peak of seasonal flu, assesses whether there is anything that the northern hemisphere can learn from the experiences of the Australian health authorities.
BMJ 339 22 August 2009 p.424-426
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13 European Commission takes on Big Pharma
A comment piece highlights the findings of the European Commission's investigation into the antitrust behaviour of large multinational drug companies - which include preventing generic drug producers from entering the market. Alongside greater sanctions for such practices and the introduction of a 'European Patent', the author calls for Big Pharma to acknowledge its social responsibility by upholding United Nations ethics guidelines concerning essential medicines.
The Lancet 374 22 August 2009 p.599-600
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14 Rejecting 'big science' tag, Collins sets five themes for NIH
New US National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Francis Collins has outlined his plans to develop five major priority themes in the role - namely to develop high-throughput technologies in appropriate areas; to emphasise translational research; to promote healthcare reform; to support global health; and to empower the research community. He also moved to reassure the research community that investigator-initiated research would remain "the mainstay" of NIH's work.
Science 325 21 August 2009 p.927
See also: Nature 460 20 August 2009 p.939
15 Two steps forward for synthetic biology
Two significant research advances published over the last two weeks have bought the vision of genetically manipulating microbes at the whole-genome level a step closer. In work published in 'Science', Craig Venter and colleagues modified a transferred bacterial genome in yeast before transplanting it into a separate host bacterial cell. Meanwhile, a team led by George Church at Harvard reported that they had developed a new technique to rapidly modify whole chemical pathways in bacteria.
Science 325 21 August 2009 p.928-929
See also: Times 21 August 2009 p.13
16 Conflict of interest and resignation at drug agency
Daniel Schultz, head of the medical device division at the US Food and Drug Administration, has resigned following allegations that products had been approved despite warnings from agency scientists. The agency is also facing criticism that the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research had undeclared conflicts of interests.
Nature 460 20 August 2009 p.943
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17 Mexico fights rise in dengue fever
An article draws attention to the spread of dengue fever in Mexico - with confirmed cases already surpassing 2008 figures by 15 per cent. Mexico is 'aggressively' applying measures to tackle the problem, including large-scale eradication of the carrier mosquito and public education programmes, but concerns remain about the impact on the economy of a country still reeling from the H1N1 influenza outbreak earlier this year.
The Lancet 374 22 August 2009 p.602
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18 An end to flu?
A feature on flu vaccines discusses candidates for a universal flu vaccine - one of which could be approved for use in three years. The article suggests that although there is a coordinated effort directed to the current H1N1 virus, work on a universal vaccine remains 'disjointed' with a number of commercial barriers hampering production of a one-off vaccine.
New Scientist 203 22 August 2009 p.28-31, 4
See also: Sunday Times 16 August 2009 p.4
Sunday Telegraph 16 August 2009 p.10
Economist 392 22 August 2009 p.69
19 Movement for global mental health gains momentum
Introducing an issue of 'The Lancet' dedicated to mental health, an editorial highlights current challenges in tackling mental illness. The Movement for Global Mental Health - a network of more than 50 organisations - has called for a scale-up of mental health services and resources in developing countries, with a particular focus on research in low and middle income countries.
The Lancet 374 22 August 2009 p.587, 603-604, 609-661
20 Preventing diarrhoea should be a global priority, says WHO
A new report from the WHO has called for a renewed focus on the prevention and treatment of diarrhoea, which remains the second leading cause of childhood mortality globally. A 2004 WHO and United Nations recommendation of two simple, low cost treatment changes - use of low osmolarity rehydration salts and zinc supplements - has not been taken up on a widespread basis, despite evidence that it could cut deaths by 75 per cent.
BMJ 339 22 August 2009 p.419
21 Cardiovascular disease gets personal
A special report considers the challenges faced when translating genetic information into clinical practice. While genetic variations appeared to offer ways to improve dosing regimens of the anti-clotting agent warfarin, implementing the ideas into practice has proved more difficult. However, researchers remain optimistic that genetically targeted drugs for cardiovascular disease will herald the beginning of personalised medicine.
Nature 460 20 August 2009 p.940-941
22 Biologists napping while work militarized
An opinion piece and accompanying editorial discuss the lack of engagement of scientists with the issue of misuse of research, despite an increasing range of potential biological warfare agents. In particular, the author calls for the Chemical Weapons Convention to be modified to take account of recent scientific developments and to cover the potential use of chemical agents for domestic riot control.
Nature 460 20 August 2009 p.950-951, 933
23 Globalizing science publishing
An editorial discusses how the development and profile of science in the developing world could be enhanced through strengthening science publication systems. The author argues the need to nurture the development of high quality local publication processes and to take forward activities to make the outputs more visible globally - through indexing on bibliometric resources and providing worldwide electronic access.
Science 325 21 August 2009 p.920
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