Harold Varmus
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Harold Varmus says his agency budget problems do not just slow progress in fight against cancer; they can also affect the "accuracy" of papers by increasing the pressure to publish quickly. With his usual frankness, he also told reporters yesterday about his concerns about a bill that set aside funding for specific cancers.
In a speech at the National Press Club titled "What Prevents Cancer Research," the Nobel laureate and former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director (1993-1999) considered a range obstacles on the ground, including the complex biology of cancer and science budgets have not kept pace with inflation since 01, despite a wealth of new knowledge and tools, "the pace of research is slower than it could be and should be, "Varmus said.
in addition, the grant of 17% to 14% NIH and NCI are having" side effects, "including" a serious sense of competition and stress "that discourages young scientists and foreign researchers planning to historically low success a move to the United States.
In addition, Varmus said, financial pressures can influence the "accuracy", referring to reports that the industry has been unable to reproduce the university research studies. "The need to get things published and get your work out there has probably decreased the accuracy of the work is published," Varmus said.
He also accuses the pressure to publish in journals such as Cell Nature and Science when important results are also shown in d other journals. One solution, he pushes at the NIH is to have biosketch an investigator, a statement on background and research achievements of the investigator, discuss how its work has contributed in the field and rely less on whether they have published in high impact journals.
Varmus also discussed a bill that was recently passed by the House of Representatives and a companion bill in the Senate that both require NCI pay particular attention to the "recalcitrant cancers." The House bill would initially set aside funds specifically for pancreatic cancer and make funding decisions in the hands of lawyers. Varmus has agreed with a speaker that these bills are "a slippery slope" that could lead to a proliferation of narrowly targeted funding. If a targeted bill passes, "Very soon all the other groups will say:" I also want. "" But he noted that progress in basic science is difficult to predict, and studies in an area often contribute to great advances in another
other remarks Varmus.
- on the "sequestration" or imminent, federal budget cuts across-the-board if Congress and the Obama administration can not agree on how to reduce the deficit, "I do not like and I guess that will not happen." Varmus said that although $ 5 billion budget NCI would be reduced by 8%, because much of the money is set aside for ongoing subsidies, cutting could reduce by 40% the funds available for new and competing grants.
- On the lack of discussion of biomedical research in the presidential campaign. "I do not think it's the fault of the candidates that there was not much said about medical research "He would like to see the questions in future debates on issues such as research on stem cells and the balance of basic and applied research.
- On a Sunday story first page in The New York Times that critics say hype the importance of NCI project cataloged genetic changes in breast cancer: the conclusion that breast cancer breaks into four subtypes is "no real breakthrough in this direction" because researchers had already identified the four types. Instead, the importance of the study is that it gave "a much denser genetic landscape that genetic abnormalaties are" that could eventually lead to better diagnosis and treatment.
- On a "moon shot" plan announced last week by the MD Anderson Cancer Center Director Ronald DePinho to dramatically improve the survival of eight cancers: "We encourage our directors cancer centers to be ambitious, "Varmus said. He added, however, that" I will not comment on his particular decision about it. "
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