Finding the Ethical Biotech; It's All in the Technique; Flags of Many Colors

TIP TROVE | Finding the Ethical Biotech Courtesy of Chris MacDonald Ethics should guide the pharmaceutical industry, but it's not always easy to determine a company's ethical track record prior to signing on. It's a good idea to talk to people in the industry, as insiders tend to know the reputations of companies. We shouldn't pretend that a pharmaceutical company's values exist only for the public good. Still, employees can promote high ethical standards by openly talking about how the company can be the right kind of role model. Ask coworkers, "Is this the kind of company we want to be? Don't we want to be able to enjoy the respect of the industry and of the public?" --Chris MacDonald, president, Canadian Society for the Study of Practical Ethics, Toronto TRAINING @ | It's All in the Technique WHAT: Immunocytochemistry, in situ Hybridization & Live Cell Imaging WHERE: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY WHY: Course focuses on specialized techniques in microscopy, in situ hybridization, and immunocytochemistry ADVANTAGES: Using protocols presented along with each method, students can assess the merits as related to their own research WHEN: Oct. 18-31, 2003 DEADLINE: July 15 COST: $2385 (US) URL: meetings.cshl.org/2003/2003c-situ.htm MOONLIGHTING | Flags of Many Colors Courtesy of Dennis Paul From the moment he waves the green start flag, Dennis Paul must focus his attention on the track. As the Chief Starter for the International Motorsports Association, Paul is responsible for communicating commands and safety to the drivers throughout the race. With nine flags in his arsenal, he will wield the blue flag to let slower cars know faster cars are coming up, the black flag to signal a car to pull out, and of course the checkered flag at the finish line. Paul travels all over the country to officiate the American LeMans Series races. Million-dollar sports cars compete in endurance races lasting as long as twelve hours. "I have to have total concentration," Paul says. With the help of assistants on every turn, he must be "aware of everything that's going on around the whole track." Paul's approach to weekday tasks is more contemplative. He is an associate professor of pharmacology at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center, where he investigates novel pharmacological methods of relieving pain. These twin careers have progressed on parallel tracks. In college, Paul volunteered at amateur car races. During his graduate school and postdoctoral studies, he trained to be a starter. Not long after scoring a tenure-track appointment at LSU, he apprenticed with the Chief Starter, who retired a couple of years later after asking Paul to step in. The job requires 10-12 three-day weekends a year, and so having flexibility to take Fridays off is key. His department has been "very cooperative" about swapping days in class lecture schedules to accommodate Paul's other life. Paul says he used to get burned out from working too hard. With racing in his life, "it's a lot easier to be at work all the time. The racing trips keep me sane." --Jill Adams function sendData() { document.frm.pathName.value = location.pathname; result = false if (document.frm.score[0].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[1].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[2].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[3].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[4].checked) result = true; if (!result) alert("Please select") return result; } .myradio{background-color : #94bee5} Please indicate on a 1 - 5 scale how strongly you would recommend this article to your colleagues? Not recommended 1 2 3 4 5 Highly recommended Please register your vote

Finding the Ethical Biotech; It's All in the Technique; Flags of Many Colors

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