Molecular Parasitology Funding

Although we were delighted to see attention being paid to molecular parasitology (K.Y. Kreeger, The Scientist, April 29, 1996, page 13), we were surprised by an omission. In addition to the three other organizations mentioned as being involved in this field, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) has invested more than $11 million in parasitology research over the past 14 years.

The fund began its molecular parasitology award program to encourage the application of fundamental research to the study of parasitic diseases. Twenty-three United States scientists have received Scholar Awards, which provide $400,000 each over five years. Twenty-one individuals have received New Investigator awards of $150,000 each over three years. Many of the leading researchers in parasitology, including several of those mentioned in the article, are BWF awardees.

This year, recognizing the worldwide importance of malaria and the need to foster basic research on malaria pathogenesis, the fund launched...