June 1996

Clouded By Secrecy ("Cosmeceuticals") BRIGHT IDEA: Faith Strickland investigates aloe's immunoprotective effects. Another summer season is under way, and millions of people are sunning themselves by beaches and pools. These days, however, the public is more aware of the unhealthy effects of sun exposure and is using more skin-care products that contain sun-protective ingredients. As the competition heats up, cosmetic companies are increasingly on the lookout for new research on better ways t

Managed-Care Organizations In Clinical Trials RAY OF HOPE: Cancer-prevention specialist Jon Kerner says MCOs support Phase III trials in some cases. With the advent of managed-care organizations (MCOs) and their focus on cost competitiveness, academic scientists are concerned that clinical trials will suffer from decreased patient participation. MCOs, they say, have been refusing to pay for ancillary tests and procedures performed in the course of a trial that they would otherwise pay. Resear

Medical journal article criticizes recommendations of NIH panel, but many contend that politics remains the real obstacle. The scientific community is up in arms about a recent editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding the use of human embryos in research. Writing in the May 16 issue of the journal, in an article titled "The politics of human embryo research-Avoiding ethical gridlock" (G.J. Annas et al., 334:1329-32, 1996), the authors argue that a National Institutes of Health

Class Of '96 DR. WHO: Harold Varmus poked fun at himself at Harvard. Colleges and universities recognized the scientific achievements of Nobel laureates, distinguished alumni, government officials, and one famous frog in awarding honorary degrees during commencement exercises this spring. Schools large and small, looking to recognize either a specific accomplishment or an entire career of superlative performance, named a wide range of science educators and researchers to receive honorary doc

By Eric Albert Email: ealbert@world.std.com ACROSS 1 Of the lungs 6 Cause for dissolution of cells by antibodies 9 Brief and severe 10 Natural process? 11 Test used in AIDS screening 12 (S)center of the face 13 Prefix for self 15 Pertaining to a saturated fatty acid 17 B-complex vitamin 18 Order of sea cows 21 Chest protector 23 German chemist Hahn 24 Species, say 25 Point where vision is most acute 28 Unable to bear something 29 Collapse of circulatory function 30 Pharmacopoeia entry 31 Femal

Understanding Of Scientific Issues In our democratic society, in which scientific and technological controversies crowd the public agenda, the American people often are asked to make judgments about unfamiliar, complex issues. On many such issues, the scientific community cannot detail with certainty the likely outcome of many trends or policies. When experts disagree, how can the public acquire enough knowledge to participate thoughtfully in developing policy responses to such controversies? A

A Reminder From Their Cold War Childhood The massive advance of science since V-J Day has been accompanied by no visible advance in the abilities of presidents of the United States to find and use the counsel of the scientific community. In most great issues of policy, such as those surrounding nuclear arms and arms control, there can be no wisdom without respect for the possibilities of the real world, which simply are not comprehensible without science. While science has expanded enormously

Research Efforts Abound After more than a year of commemoration, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) this week concludes its 25th-anniversary celebration at the annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism in Washington, D.C. NIAAA was signed into existence in 1970 by President Richard Nixon ironically-or, perhaps, fittingly-on New Year's Eve, a holiday marked by excessive alcohol consumption. The institute initially was charged with developing health, educat

Conduct Clinical Trials Clinical trials, an important step in drug development, require a diverse team of people to plan, conduct, monitor, analyze, and write about the detailed, multistep testing of new drugs in humans. For each of these functions, there are promising opportunities for anyone who has a solid life science or health care background, a "detail" orientation, and good interpersonal skills. Available positions on these trials include project managers, medical investigators and study

As dean of the science college at a major research university and an active teacher and researcher, Susan Henry is a successful and energetic spokesperson for science and science education. In addition to balancing her administrative duties with research and teaching, Henry is actively involved in programs for science teachers and partnerships that bring science to many audiences. On the national level, she serves as a member of the National Institutes of Health's National Advisory General Medi

Peptide-Synthesis Services Peptides-linear chains of amino acids-are the building blocks of nature. Understanding their action figures prominently in recent advances in many fields, particularly immunology. Such insight, for example, allows investigators to elucidate the details of antigen-antibody interactions of the human immune system. VERSATILE: Services at Richmond, VA.-based Commonwealth Biotechnologies include peptide and DNA synthesis. Because scientists aren't able to extract suffic

Late last month, the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an earlier decision allowing the National Science Foundation to maintain confidentiality in its peer-review process. In 1994, Wanda and Robert Henke, engineers who own and run Lutherville, Md.-based Dynamic In Situ Geotechnical Testing Inc., brought a suit against NSF and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), challenging the agencies' right to keep private the names of grant-proposal reviewers. From 1990