ARRA and You (Part IVb): Challenge Grant Research Priorities. Currently, science administrators at NIH are allocating grant funds favoring proposals that have a high impact in biomedical or behavioral science and/or public health. Invariably, the 15 areas of priority that NIH has identified will influence the heath sector for years, so I present and discuss them around the nature of this influence.
1. I’ll address Behavior, Behavioral Change and Prevention research first not only because it doesn’t fit neatly into the categories 1. that follow but also because prevention is the beginning of health care. The question: Which has the greatest impact on health and disease? Nature or nurture? Is an argument that may be as old as time, itself. (Okay, I exaggerate, but only a little). As scientist have forged ahead making great strides in their understanding of nature through the sequencing of the entire human genome and the burgeoning discipline of genomics which has sprung forth as a result. They continue to struggle to elucidate the factors that influence behavior. Since the main diseases that plague us today (think heart disease, diabetes and cancer) are exacerbated by our behavior, this path of inquiry is truly worthy. The aim of this research is to better understand the factors that influence behavior as well as the methods that have the most robust impact, changing behaviors to those that promote health and prevent disease. To date, prevention is still the most efficient and cost-effective option for alleviating the burden of suffering and disability brought on by disease. 1. We turn our attention to the highly debated Stem Cells. These are # simple, unspecialized cells in the embryo or adult which have the potential to become any specialized cell in a living organism under the chemical influence of specific compounds and hormones. The aim of this research is to better understand the abnormal structure or function that causes disease. Cells with normal structure and function can be generated to replace diseased cells, through the process of culturing or growing them in the laboratory.
# The area of Genomics aims to examine the entire DNA sequence (the instruction book, if you will, of all life processes) from the number of genes in a living organism to the function of specific genes. The goal is to see how they interact with one another and influence the biological processes of the body as a whole. Ultimately, genomics examines this genetic information to determine biological markers predisposing an individual to disease.
Prevention through biomedical interventions has progressed well through the first decade. In fact, these next six research disciplines operate in concert. I believe the application of these cutting-edge 21st century technologies will transform the way we diagnose and treat disease to a more personal and molecular level.
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ARRA and You (Part IVa): Challenge Grant Research Priorities. The impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on the health sector is so broad ultimately, it will touch all our lives. From COBRA insurance premium assistance and funding to the states for Medicaid and SCHIP to improved funding for research in the health and biomedical sectors, there appears to be no area left unaffected by the comprehensive legislation. As part of the Recovery Act, NIH has designated no less than $200 million, in the upcoming fiscal year, to fund research in areas that “address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research.” Science administrators hope to take advantage of opportunities to fill gaps in knowledge, develop new technologies, refine research methods and generate data. These areas of priority to which challenge grant funds will be awarded will influence this sector for years to come in the following three ways.
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by Gary Markstein, originally uploaded by the Health Advocate.
Here’s your latest dose of laughs. While this piece by Markstein made me laugh, I really don’t agree with the politics behind it. Those of you who read Monday’s post will understand since that post was a response to this cartoon. After you’ve enjoyed [...]
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ARRA and You (Part II): Employment, Economic Recovery and the Research Sector. There are critics of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 who make light of the idea that one part of the American economy that the Act is stimulating is the science and research sector. Denying the significant contribution of this sector to the economy is simply a refusal to face facts. This is an observation also made in an previous post. There is serious labor economics at work here. The National Science Foundation’s biennial report Science and Engineering Indicators, 2006 (the most current available) concluded,
“Although workers with science and engineering skills still make up only a fraction of the total U.S. civilian labor force, their effect on society belies their numbers. These workers contribute enormously to technological innovation and economic growth, research, and increased knowledge. Workers with S&E skills include technicians and technologists, researchers, educators, and managers. In addition, many others with S&E training use their skills in a variety of nominally non-S&E occupations (such as writers, salesmen, financial managers, and legal consultants), and many niches in the labor market require them to interpret and use S&E knowledge.”
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Statistics serve only to confirm what we instinctively already knew, the Executive Order of 2001 which banned funding for embryonic stem cell research did not reflect the will of the people. (see fig. 7-18) Though we live in a representative democracy, the ignorance and fears of the minority should not overrule the cautious optimism of the majority.
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