Biodefense Spending DataIn late February, 758 microbiologists signed an open letter claiming that the number of NIH grants for research on bacteria and yeast had dropped precipitously since 2000 compared to the previous five-year period (see http://www.biomed-central.com/news/20050301/02). That drop, they say, was due to funding being siphoned off into billions of dollars in biodefense spending. In response, NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases claimed just the opposite &#

Microbiologists echo earlier claims that funding priorities are skewed against basic science

President's 2006 budget would cut such spending at DOE by two thirds

758 microbiologists sign letter saying basic research at NIH is being compromised

In the mid-1970s, the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, the program that gives US recipients the chance to study at Oxford for two to three years, included just one or two future scientists per year, out of 32 awardees.

Updating 2004's biggest stories: Biolab fights continue; Butler appeal ongoing

Updating 2004's biggest stories: Artist case becoming costly; Grad student unions push on

In March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, meant to be the centerpiece of a new national system to prevent bioterrorists from seeing research they could transform into bioweapons (see http://www.the-scientist.com/news/20040305/04). But since then, the board has never met, its members have not been chosen, and its professional staff is not yet in place. As of earlier this month, the news page of its Web site had not

Decision allows US publishers to edit manuscripts from Cuba, Iran, and Sudan

Mike Leavitt, administrator of the EPA, would oversee NIH

Last month the World Health Organization's external committee on smallpox recommended that the two scientific teams possessing smallpox virus be allowed to insert a green fluorescent marker gene into the virus to test the efficacy of potential antismallpox drugs.

WHO committee plan would allow 20% of viral genome to be released to approved labs