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John DeSesso
The Teratology Society has been a member of
FASEB for nearly a decade. As the Society’s liaison,
I have had the privilege to observe and participate in FASEB’s
efforts to improve the scientific life of scientists through
a variety of efforts aimed at educating Congress, improving
communication among scientists, and sharing the excitement
of science with the public. These activities require keeping
abreast of up-to-theminute changes in legislation concerning
funding initiatives, animal welfare, conflict of interest
and the m funding structure for the NIH. A few of the accomplishments
that impact each of us as scientists are listed below.
Shaping the Future of NIH: One
of the final actions of the 109 th United States Congress
was to pass the National Institutes of Health Reform Act,
a landmark piece of legislation that reauthorized the NIH
for the first time in more than 13 years. FASEB played a major
role in shaping, improving and ultimately passing the NIH
reauthorization bill, having exclusive input into the developing
legislation, resulting in a vision for NIH that emphasized
investigator initiated research, improved transparency, and
sustainable funding levels.
Historic Animal Rights Terrorism Legislation:
President Bush recently signed S. 3880, the "Animal Enterprise
Terrorism Act (AETA)," into law. FASEB worked actively
to pass this legislation, which increases protections for
researchers targeted by animal rights extremists, who advocate
arson, personal violence, and vandalism as appropriate means
to end the use of animals in research.
Conflict of Interest Initiative:
In response to growing concern over ethical issues related
to academicindustry-government relations, FASEB launched a
major proactive effort to address conflict of interest issues
from the perspective of the extramural research scientist.
Funded by the Office of Research Integrity and the Association
of American Medical Colleges, the FASEB initiative has resulted
in publication of a report, Shared Responsibility, Individual
Integrity: Scientists Addressing Conflicts of Interest in
Biomedical Research, which has gained national attention,
as well as development of a toolkit with recommendations to
improve the management of academic-industry relationships
and promote investigator education. Currently, FASEB is leading
the way towards a consistent national guideline for management
of
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conflicts of interest.
Tools for Scientists: FASEB has designed
and makes freely available a number of tools and materials
for scientists to use in their own advocacy or science policy
efforts. These include customizable state-specific slides
to make the case for NIH funding, advocacy toolkits on evolution
and conflict-of-interest, data on trends in training of scientists
and research funding, and educational publications, like the
Breakthroughs in Bioscience series, which explains the connection
between basic research and technological advancement for non-scientists.
FASEB Society member scientists can also sign up on the FASEB
website to receive legislative action alerts, when urgent
action is needed, or the FASEB biweekly electronic newsletter,
FASEB Washington Update, to keep abreast of the latest science
policy news from Washington. •
Your Genealogy Affects Your Health
By F. Clarke Fraser, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor Emeritus, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
This book is a MUST READ! Written by Dr. F. Clarke
Fraser, a founder of the Teratology Society, the field
of genetic counseling and a world-renown teacher and
researcher, it encapsulates a wealth of knowledge in
a small fascinating book. Researchers, medical doctors
and students will find it an invaluable reference that
can be used to quickly update their current knowledge
on genetics and authoritatively address frequently asked
questions about the relationship of genetics to disease
susceptibility. The book is divided into four chapters.
The first is an overview of genetics and the next three
address genetic traits in alphabetical order. There
is also a glossary and a list of recommended books and
Internet sites for those wanting more detailed information.
Chapter 1, Genetics in a Nutshell, provides
an easy to understand overview of this complicated field.
The descriptions of the Double Helix, the gene,
the genome, and the three main ways genes can cause
disease make this chapter one that should be required
reading for the general public, legislators and clergy.
Seldom are these complex sensitive issues so critical
to research and human health so well communicated. |
Book Review - continued on page
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Publications