Articles by Stephen Hoffert

Chimpanzees share almost all their gene sequences with humans, and this closeness has made them ideal animal models for many human diseases. But similarities between humans and nonhuman primates go beyond genetics. Nonhuman primates are very social animals, travel long distances to find food, sometimes live on the fringes of the wild, and often become afflicted with diseases closely resembling those of humans. PREP FOR FLIGHT: Handlers prepare chimpanzee Ham, one of the NASA "astrochimps," f

Pediatric vaccinations make children's skin resemble pincushions. Transcutaneous immunization methods in development aim to make their skin function like sponges. Harnessing the adjuvant activity of cholera toxin (CT) could make this immunization method feasible, predicts Gregory M. Glenn, scientific director of IOMAI Inc., a biotech company in Washington, D.C. Glenn and colleagues are developing a technique that mixes the toxin with antigens to boost immune responses. In one set of experimen

SEALED AND DELIVERED: Pasteurized Eggs has won USDA's first seal certifying the efficacy of the process for making eggs nearly Salmonella-free. The difference between pasteurized and unpasteurized eggs from the shell is hardly visible. The pasteurized ones (top) are slightly cloudier. Eggs, sunny-side up, have been on the path to becoming a relic of the past. Salmonella enteritidis (SE) has become one of the most common causes of bacterial foodborne illness in humans in the United States, an

Who sets research priorities and goals at the National Institutes of Health? Obviously, scientists who have requisite knowledge of biomedicine play a major role. But a recent study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) calls for changes at NIH that could give the public a bigger part in setting the scientific agenda. And an IOM report released July 8 is bound to stir debate over priority setting at the nation's single largest source of funds for biomedical research. In March of this year, IOM, un

In light of several high-profile court cases on patenting of DNA sequences, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in June issued interim guidelines for helping patent examiners determine if the so-called "written description" requirement for patent applications has been met. John J. Doll, director of biotechnology examination at USPTO, says the interim guidelines have become necessary to determine just how court decisions such as University of California Regents v. Eli Lilly and Co. wil

At what price do we bring clean air to cities around the United States? To some government agencies and oil refiners, the answer is clear. At an average cost of 2-3 cents per gallon of gasoline, the oxygenate methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) can significantly reduce toxic automobile emissions and improve air quality in many smog-choked cities throughout the nation. To lawmakers, the answer has been less certain. MTBE has taken center stage in a political debate that has cast doubt on the safe

Research in genetics has changed the way scientists view many disorders that befall patients. For example, investigators have taken giant steps in understanding the molecular basis of diseases such as cancer and cystic fibrosis. Genetic research also has radically revamped the understanding of afflictions--including manic-depression and obesity--that in the past were blamed on the infirmity and weak will of their sufferers. CONFIDENTIALITY CONSIDERED: Utah's Jeffrey Botkin, says his study on

Moms, doctors, and researchers all agree that good hygiene practices such as washing your hands and keeping a clean household are the best guards against many diseases. Disinfectants, soap, and water remain the old standbys for keeping homes and hands clean. However, antibacterial compounds added to dishwashing detergents, lotions, and even fabric have taken the marketplace by storm. Although many scientists in industry believe these products give consumers an added edge against bacteria and ot

More than five million people visit Lancaster County, Pa., annually. They crowd small towns to catch a glimpse of a Mennonite family on the way to church in a horse-drawn buggy, and they jam country backroads to marvel at an Amish farmer and his mule plowing a field. To many visitors harried by the pace of modern living, the Amish and Mennonites represent a simpler, purer, and more pious way of living. To others, they represent a rich source of scientific data. Each year investigators in medi

PHASE III NEARS: Cubist Pharmaceuticals has a promising antibiotic--daptomycin--that the company hopes to have in Phase III clinical trials in late 1998 or early 1999. Bacteria are back. Following the discovery and introduction into medicine of penicillin in 1941, intense research in microbiology produced a potent armament of antibiotics that all but eliminated a variety of infectious diseases. With this success, many large pharmaceutical companies scaled back research and development of new

CALLING ALL MENTORS: Washington's Steven Nourse says disabled students often are not encouraged by teachers and counselors to study science. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that United States companies comply with mandates to improve accessibility for disabled individuals. Yet U.S. Census data show that disabled people constitute more than 10 percent of the general work force and only 2.7 percent of the scientific and engineering work force. To improve opportunities for th

Few who have suffered from influenza need to be reminded of the misery it can inflict. Recent outbreaks in Hong Kong serve as a strong reminder that influenza is a costly and often fatal disease. In December, an outbreak of a deadly strain of avian influenza in Hong Kong caused the government there to mandate the slaughter of more than 1.5 million chickens. As of January, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers have identified 16 confirmed cases of the avian flu in humans.

TACTICAL RETREAT: Many institutions, fearing lawsuits, will abandon their affirmative action programs, predicts NACME's George Campbell, Jr. Universities are feeling the impact of recently approved anti-affirmative action initiatives that ban the consideration of a student's race in admissions decisions. Medical schools have seen a dramatic decrease in minority enrollment; grad schools also have seen a noticeable decline. In hopes of maintaining diverse student bodies, many institutions-includ

Edited by: Stephen P. Hoffert R.G. Will, J.W. Ironside, M. Zeidler, S.N. Cousens, K. Estibeiro, A. Alperovitch, S. Poser, M. Pocchiari, A. Hofman, P.G. Smith, "A new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the U.K.," Lancet, 347:921-5, 1996. (Cited in more than 230 publications to date) Comments by R.G. Will, National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit, Edinburgh, Scotland On Aug. 1, 1996, an international research team sent scientific, economic, and political shock waves throughout

The odds of writing a successful grant proposal are long these days. The Office of Extramural Research of the National Institutes of Health reports that the number of competing grants applications rose sharply-from 20,406 to 25,510-between 1985 and 1994. But the number of awards actually decreased from 6,752 in 1985 to 6,474 in 1994. Now more than ever, researchers applying for grants face intense competition. Professionals who help researchers write grant proposals say there are several thing