X.D. Wang, R. Sato, M.S. Brown, X.X. Hua, J.L. Goldstein, "Srebp-1, a membrane-bound transcription factor released by sterol-regulated proteolysis," Cell, 77:53-62, 1994. (Cited in more than 65 publications as of February 1996) Comments by Joseph L. Goldstein, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center SURPRISED: Joseph Goldstein investigates cholesterol control. The work reported in this paper reveals the mechanism for transcriptional control of the genes that regulate cholesterol in

Science? Many from academia and industry dispute an NCI scientist's charge that confidentiality agreements restrict the free exchange of information. CONCERNED: NCI's Steven Rosenberg worries that research agreements promote secrecy among scientists. Few scientists with research support from industry complain in these times of increasing competition for grants from federal agencies. Yet some investigators are concerned that corporate desires to keep firm control over so-called proprietary in

But Caution Author: Steven Benowitz The human genome has become extremely big business. IN DEVELOPMENT: Myriad CEO Peter Meldrum sees increasing industry-academia ties in genetics Taking the lead from the Human Genome Project, an ambitious $3 billion, 15-year federal effort aimed at analyzing the entire human genetic heritage, industry has begun treading cautiously into the relatively uncharted waters of genetic testing. Several companies, often along with academic collaborators, have begun

(The Scientist, Vol:10, #6, p. 14, March 18, 1996) R. Shiang, L.M. Thompson, Y. Zhu, D.M. Church, T.J. Fielder, M. Bocian, S.T. Winokur, J.J. Wasmuth, "Mutations in the transmembrane domain of FGFR3 cause the most common genetic form of dwarfism, achondroplasia," Cell, 78:335-42, 1994. (Cited in more than 70 publications as of February 1996) Comments by Leslie M. Thompson and Rita Shiang, University of California, Irvine The past decade or so has seen the discovery of a number of disease gene

(The Scientist, Vol:10, #6, p. 14, March 18, 1996) W.F. Dietrich, J.C. Miller, R.G. Steen, M. Merchant, D. Damron, R. Nahf, A. Gross, D.C. Joyce, M. Wessel, R.D. Dredge, A. Marquis, L.D. Stein, N. Goodman, D.C. Page, E. Lander, "A genetic map of the mouse with 4,006 simple sequence length polymorphisms," Nature Genetics, 7:220-45, 1994. (Cited in more than 130 publications as of February 1996) MAP-MAKER: MIT biologist Eric Lander and his coworkers developed a comprehensive map of the mouse g

Optimism, Caution Date: March 4, 1996 (The Scientist, Vol:10, #5, pg.3 & 6, March 4, 1996) (Copyright ©, The Scientist, Inc.) When Oakland, Calif., AIDS activist-now patient-turned-guinea-pig-Jeff Getty received baboon bone marrow cells in December, doctors gave the daring cross-species experiment little chance of working. Now, three months later, scientists are debating not only whether or not the procedure was a success, but also if it was appropriate in the first place. In question also

Too Much On Alzheimer's? Author: Steven Benowitz Date: February 19, 1996 The National Institute on Aging (NIA) spent approximately $216 million last year-practically one-half of its 1995 total budget of $433 million-on research related to Alzheimer's disease. Overall, the National Institutes of Health funded some $311 million in Alzheimer's-associated work. Concerned: Richard Adelman worries about a lack of money for basic aging science. Is that too much? Is spending that much on Alzheimer'

In Plant-Derived Drugs Author: Steven Benowitz Date: February 5, 1996 Historically, industry interest in plant-derived pharmaceuticals has waxed and waned. But greatly improved drug-screening technologies and a concern over disappearing Third World resources (and potential sources of medicines) have fueled a resurgence of drug-industry interest in natural products and plant-derived drugs in recent years. Optimistic: James Miller of the Missouri Botanical Garden sees new technology as key to

When Michael Smith took a share of the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1993 for his work in reprogramming genes, 1989 Nobelist J. Michael Bishop, University Professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of California, San Francisco, offered some friendly advice: Learn to say "no." JUST SAY NO: 1993 laureate Michael Smith was advised to turn down invitations. Previous Nobel laureates warn that the attention and instant celebrity in the first year-even up

Despite well-publicized, lucrative licensing deals, most university technology experts find that patenting and licensing inventions is a process laden with potential pitfalls. While universities claim that the investment is generally worthwhile for a number of reasons, the challenge, many specialists say, is choosing the right project and matching it with the right industry at the right time. Patents often languish, investments frequently sour. The fact is, for every income-earning patent, mil

Some basic tenets of the Clinton administration's science and technology policy - the encouragement of applied research and collaboration with industry to bring it to fruition - are colliding with traditional Republican values. These include long-standing opposition to such partnerships, a desire to give the states a greater voice in science matters, and a general urge for budget reductions on the part of the GOP-controlled Congress. IRONY: The Department of Commerce's Mary good notes that wh

As science increasingly becomes more complex, interdisciplinary research at many academic institutions is quickly becoming the rule rather than the exception, many scientists and ad- ministrators say. At the same time, observers warn, there are institutional roadblocks to such collaborations. Most universities remain bound by traditional departmental structures for administrative and curricular purposes, including peer review, tenure, and promotion. Funding agencies, too, have been structural