Study: Republicans Stymie Sensitive Medical Research

[Wetzelbill]

Study: Republicans Stymie Sensitive Medical Research

Important US research to reduce HIV infection may have been prevented in recent years because scientists have censored their funding requests in response to political controversy, according to a study published on Tuesday.

Writing in PLoS Medicine, the academic journal, Joanna Kempner from Rutgers University identified a "chilling effect" on researchers seeking grants from the government-backed National Institutes of Health after their work was questioned by Republican lawmakers and Christian groups.

The findings suggest politics influence scientists' willingness to conduct research, and raise warnings at a time of continued sensitivity over medical research topics from sexual behaviour to stem cells.

Among 82 researchers polled by Ms Kempner, who had received money from the NIH, almost a quarter had dropped or reframed studies around sexual behaviour they judged to be politically sensitive, and four had made career changes and left academia as a result of the controversy

(the full link requires a log in)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/18/study-republicans-stymie_n_144769.html

[babylonsister]

1. Unreal. So much to repair, isn't there. nt

[Wetzelbill]

4. That's why it's going to be so tough for Obama

He's going to spend so much time repairing the damage, that it'll eat up a lot of his presidency. Instead of undoing damage, when are we ever going to truly move forward? Bill Clinton just got us back to even on many things then Bush came along and screwed it all up.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. It will be nice to get back to reality based science, education and health policies..

[Wetzelbill]

3. the last 8 years have been a nightmare

I can scarcely believe it. And as unpopular as Bush and the GOP are, if people actually knew half the things they have done or tried to do they'd be ready to light up the torches and riot.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. You are right about the torches and riots...

Part of me wants to do it before Jan 20th...just for the hell of it..

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Soon we can scuttle "abstinence" research ...

... as well as those silly-assed studies on "therapeutic prayer".

But I do hope they can make an exception for "therapeutic prayer" when Jews, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians are involved in the study, too.

--p!
"Our Father, Who Art in Nirvana, hallowed be Thy bodhicitta mudra ... "

[ACTION BASTARD]

7. I can NOT wait to see Obama firebomb the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives

Burn! Baby Burn! I'm looking forward to hearing the new AG say, "Arrest These Men!"