May 1994

Some even recommend abolishing the traditional process used by science journal editors to evaluate submitted manuscripts During the past several years, the practice of peer review of article submissions--accepted unquestioningly by some authors--has come under increasingly harsh scrutiny by others. Many of these authors--joined, in some cases, by the editors of the very publications they are criticizing--are demanding change: Some

Some even recommend abolishing the traditional process used by science journal editors to evaluate submitted manuscripts During the past several years, the practice of peer review of article submissions--accepted unquestioningly by some authors--has come under increasingly harsh scrutiny by others. Many of these authors--joined, in some cases, by the editors of the very publications they are criticizing--are demanding change: Some

Structural Biology Researcher Wins Awards From Two National Societies Samuel Thier has taken the post of president of the Massachusetts General Hospital Roger Wolcott Sperry -- Obituary Peter S. Kim, an associate professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge who also holds appointments as a member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and an associate investigator of the Howard Hug

Structural Biology Researcher Wins Awards From Two National Societies Samuel Thier has taken the post of president of the Massachusetts General Hospital Roger Wolcott Sperry -- Obituary Peter S. Kim, an associate professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge who also holds appointments as a member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and an associate investigator of the Howard Hug

Support Is Greeted By Mixed Reactions Author: BARBARA SPECTOR, pp.1 Date: May 30,1994 Some observers regard the plea to Congress, signed by 156 organizations, as an urgently needed document, but others see flaws in it A "consensus statement" advocating increased medical research funding by the United States government--endorsed by 156 institutions, associations, and companies and presented to Congress earlier this month --will b

Intramural Research Efforts Author: FRANKLIN HOKE, pp.1 Date: May 30,1994 Influence of the agency's scientific directors will ebb if NIH adopts revised methods of reviewing quality, approving tenure Scientists and administrators at the National Institutes of Health are optimistic that changes suggested by an external advisory committee in a recent report will prove effective in strengthening the agency's intramural research prog

Support Is Greeted By Mixed Reactions Author: BARBARA SPECTOR, pp.1 Date: May 30,1994 Some observers regard the plea to Congress, signed by 156 organizations, as an urgently needed document, but others see flaws in it A "consensus statement" advocating increased medical research funding by the United States government--endorsed by 156 institutions, associations, and companies and presented to Congress earlier this month --will b

Intramural Research Efforts Author: FRANKLIN HOKE, pp.1 Date: May 30,1994 Influence of the agency's scientific directors will ebb if NIH adopts revised methods of reviewing quality, approving tenure Scientists and administrators at the National Institutes of Health are optimistic that changes suggested by an external advisory committee in a recent report will prove effective in strengthening the agency's intramural research prog

Research Debate Author:NEERAJA SANKARAN, pp.3 Date: May 30,1994 A preliminary report on the results of an extensive exploration of issues involving animal research, conducted by Tufts University's Center for Animals & Public Policy, is drawing both favorable and unfavorable reactions from various constituencies within the animal-research and animal-protection communities. Andrew Rowan, the director of the Tufts center and the prin

Research Debate Author:NEERAJA SANKARAN, pp.3 Date: May 30,1994 A preliminary report on the results of an extensive exploration of issues involving animal research, conducted by Tufts University's Center for Animals & Public Policy, is drawing both favorable and unfavorable reactions from various constituencies within the animal-research and animal-protection communities. Andrew Rowan, the director of the Tufts center and the prin

Community Author: KAREN YOUNG KREEGER, pp.6 Date: May 30,1994 As Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) officials had indicated several months ago, the final list of United States researchers selected as HHMI investigators reflects both an expansion of the institute's cadre of research institutions and its commitment to elevating the role of women and minorities in science. HHMI, which traditionally appoints fewer than 20 new inve

Community Author: KAREN YOUNG KREEGER, pp.6 Date: May 30,1994 As Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) officials had indicated several months ago, the final list of United States researchers selected as HHMI investigators reflects both an expansion of the institute's cadre of research institutions and its commitment to elevating the role of women and minorities in science. HHMI, which traditionally appoints fewer than 20 new inve

Risky Business Biotech Futures Oncology Fellowships Micro Manipulation Environmental Achievement Exercises In Ethics Report Card A new Department of Energy (DOE) database available over the Internet catalogs about 175 current research studies involving human subjects either funded by the agency or conducted at its facilities. In at least 41 of the projects, people are exposed to radiation, most for imaging, diagnostic, or therapeut

Risky Business Biotech Futures Oncology Fellowships Micro Manipulation Environmental Achievement Exercises In Ethics Report Card A new Department of Energy (DOE) database available over the Internet catalogs about 175 current research studies involving human subjects either funded by the agency or conducted at its facilities. In at least 41 of the projects, people are exposed to radiation, most for imaging, diagnostic, or therapeut

A member of the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bernard Roizman believes that "science is a search for the truth and better understanding of our environment. In return, scientists have a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the world in which we live." Roizman's contribution has been great; through the deeper understanding of the molecular biology of the herpes simplex virus, his

A member of the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bernard Roizman believes that "science is a search for the truth and better understanding of our environment. In return, scientists have a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the world in which we live." Roizman's contribution has been great; through the deeper understanding of the molecular biology of the herpes simplex virus, his

pp.13 Date: May 30,1994 Editor's Note: Following is the text of Research!America's consensus statement on biomedical research support (see story on page 1). The document, signed by 156 academic, scientific, and corporate supporters, was delivered to members of Congress on May 3. Research!America Forum Consensus Statement Too many Americans are suffering and dying needlessly because, as a nation, we don't invest enough in [basic

pp.13 Date: May 30,1994 Editor's Note: Following is the text of Research!America's consensus statement on biomedical research support (see story on page 1). The document, signed by 156 academic, scientific, and corporate supporters, was delivered to members of Congress on May 3. Research!America Forum Consensus Statement Too many Americans are suffering and dying needlessly because, as a nation, we don't invest enough in [basic

Throughout my 35-year career, I have joyfully observed the dramatic growth of medical research and biotechnology. I've had the good fortune, over time, to witness this evolution as a participant in each of the medical-research enterprise's three sponsoring environments: government, academia, and industry. More than anything this diverse experience has instilled in me a powerful belief that any improvement in the health and well-bei

Throughout my 35-year career, I have joyfully observed the dramatic growth of medical research and biotechnology. I've had the good fortune, over time, to witness this evolution as a participant in each of the medical-research enterprise's three sponsoring environments: government, academia, and industry. More than anything this diverse experience has instilled in me a powerful belief that any improvement in the health and well-bei

The Scientist [page 11]. It is difficult to defend the needs of science against the demands of a panicky Congress. The pressure generated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski's (D-Md.) subcommittee is particularly dangerous to our country's future, for it may cause us to reduce funding for that which will bring truly new technologies. If we look back to the 19th century, we can identify strains that led to important modern technology. To cite

The Scientist [page 11]. It is difficult to defend the needs of science against the demands of a panicky Congress. The pressure generated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski's (D-Md.) subcommittee is particularly dangerous to our country's future, for it may cause us to reduce funding for that which will bring truly new technologies. If we look back to the 19th century, we can identify strains that led to important modern technology. To cite

Future Uses Author: MYRNA E. WATANABE, pp.14 Date: May 30,1994 They live--thrive, even--in boiling water! They feed on sulfur or hydrogen. They could be from one of the moons of Jupiter. In fact, their existence here on Earth has led scientists to realize that planets they hitherto assumed to be lifeless might support life. These thermophilic, or heat-loving, microbes--Archaea--are attracting a small but growing cadre of researcher

They live--thrive, even--in boiling water! They feed on sulfur or hydrogen. They could be from one of the moons of Jupiter. In fact, their existence here on Earth has led scientists to realize that planets they hitherto assumed to be lifeless might support life. These thermophilic, or heat- loving, microbes--Archaea--are attracting a small but growing cadre of researchers and serious research funding from the United States governmen

Future Uses Author: MYRNA E. WATANABE, pp.14 Date: May 30,1994 They live--thrive, even--in boiling water! They feed on sulfur or hydrogen. They could be from one of the moons of Jupiter. In fact, their existence here on Earth has led scientists to realize that planets they hitherto assumed to be lifeless might support life. These thermophilic, or heat-loving, microbes--Archaea--are attracting a small but growing cadre of researcher

They live--thrive, even--in boiling water! They feed on sulfur or hydrogen. They could be from one of the moons of Jupiter. In fact, their existence here on Earth has led scientists to realize that planets they hitherto assumed to be lifeless might support life. These thermophilic, or heat- loving, microbes--Archaea--are attracting a small but growing cadre of researchers and serious research funding from the United States governmen

pp.16 Date: May 30,1994 K.W. Culver, Z. Ram, S. Wallbridge, H. Ishii, E.H. Oldfield, R.M. Blaese, "In vivo gene transfer with retroviral vector producer cells for treatment of experimental brain tumors," Science, 256:1550-2, 1992. Kenneth W. Culver (Human Gene Therapy Research Institute, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines): "The first observation in our study was that murine retroviral vectors (MRV) could efficiently transfe

pp.16 Date: May 30,1994 K.W. Culver, Z. Ram, S. Wallbridge, H. Ishii, E.H. Oldfield, R.M. Blaese, "In vivo gene transfer with retroviral vector producer cells for treatment of experimental brain tumors," Science, 256:1550-2, 1992. Kenneth W. Culver (Human Gene Therapy Research Institute, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines): "The first observation in our study was that murine retroviral vectors (MRV) could efficiently transfe

pp.16 Date: May 30,1994 H. Takagi, R.J. Cava, M. Marezio, B. Batlogg, J.J. Krajewski, W.F. Peck, Jr., P. Bordet, D.E. Cox, "Disappearance of superconductivity in overdoped La2- xSrxCuO4 at a structural phase boundary," Physical Review Letters, 68:3777-80, 1992. Robert J. Cava (AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, N.J.): "One of the obstacles to understanding the still-elusive underlying cause of high-Tc superconductivity is the fi

pp.16 Date: May 30,1994 T.W. Ebbesen, P.M. Ajayan, "Large-scale synthesis of carbon nanotubes," Nature, 358:220-2, 1992. Thomas W. Ebbesen (Fundamental Research Laboratories, NEC Corp., Tsukuba, Japan): "Carbon nanotubes are very small, hollow graphitic tubes (nanometer in diameter, micrometer long) that generated a lot of excitement when they were first observed. They were seen both as elongated fullerenes and as the ultimate fib

pp.16 Date: May 30,1994 H. Takagi, R.J. Cava, M. Marezio, B. Batlogg, J.J. Krajewski, W.F. Peck, Jr., P. Bordet, D.E. Cox, "Disappearance of superconductivity in overdoped La2- xSrxCuO4 at a structural phase boundary," Physical Review Letters, 68:3777-80, 1992. Robert J. Cava (AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, N.J.): "One of the obstacles to understanding the still-elusive underlying cause of high-Tc superconductivity is the fi

pp.16 Date: May 30,1994 T.W. Ebbesen, P.M. Ajayan, "Large-scale synthesis of carbon nanotubes," Nature, 358:220-2, 1992. Thomas W. Ebbesen (Fundamental Research Laboratories, NEC Corp., Tsukuba, Japan): "Carbon nanotubes are very small, hollow graphitic tubes (nanometer in diameter, micrometer long) that generated a lot of excitement when they were first observed. They were seen both as elongated fullerenes and as the ultimate fib

According to Martha Verchot, education coordinator at the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Birmingham, a number of databases and other resources can help in identifying potential funders. Some of these are available over the Internet free of charge, and some are commercial products provided in different formats. Among these are the following: The Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN) is a

According to Martha Verchot, education coordinator at the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Birmingham, a number of databases and other resources can help in identifying potential funders. Some of these are available over the Internet free of charge, and some are commercial products provided in different formats. Among these are the following: The Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN) is a

NEW PRODUCTS pp.20 Date: May 30, 1994 The DNA Plus System, now available from Heto AS of Denmark, is a compact, complete vacuum-concentration system de- signed for drying and concentrating RNA and DNA precipitates. The DNA Plus System is an all-in-one unit, consisting of a vacuum rotator-mini centrifuge, a Teflon- coated membrane vacuum pump, a cooling trap that can handle temperatures as low as -60o C, and a built-in controller f

NEW PRODUCTS pp.20 Date: May 30, 1994 The DNA Plus System, now available from Heto AS of Denmark, is a compact, complete vacuum-concentration system de- signed for drying and concentrating RNA and DNA precipitates. The DNA Plus System is an all-in-one unit, consisting of a vacuum rotator-mini centrifuge, a Teflon- coated membrane vacuum pump, a cooling trap that can handle temperatures as low as -60o C, and a built-in controller f