MedWorm: Funding

Modeling the impact of spatial relationships on horizontal curve safety.

Accident; Analysis and Prevention. — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:30:32 +0100

Authors: Findley DJ, Hummer JE, Rasdorf W, Zegeer CV, Fowler TJ Abstract The curved segments of roadways are more hazardous because of the additional centripetalforces exerted on a vehicle, driver expectations, and other factors. The safety of a curve is dependent on various factors, most notably by geometric factors, but the location of a curve in relation to other curves is also thought to influence the safety of those curves because of a driver's expectation to encounter additional curves. The link between an individual curve's geometric characteristics and its safety performance has been established, but spatial considerations are typically not included in a safety analysis. The spatial considerations included in this research consisted of four components: distance to adjacent ...

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Insight: Komen charity under microscope for funding, science

Reuters: Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:22:40 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity defines its mission as finding a cure for breast cancer. In recent years, however, it has cut by nearly half the proportion of fund-raising dollars it spends on grants to scientists working to understand the causes and develop effective new treatments for the disease. (Source: Reuters: Health)

NPC publishes sixth issue of 'tough decisions

NeLM - News — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: NPC Area: News The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has published the sixth edition of its newsletter 'Tough Decisions', a quarterly publication available to all NHS personnel making decisions about the funding and commissioning of medicines at a local level. This issue addresses the following topics: . Local decision-making news.in brief . How the NPC and NICE can help you and your commissioning groups . New medicines - are you prepared? . Managing medicines across a health community - is your Area Prescribing Committee fit for purpose? . IFR manager newsSharing practice The newsletter can be accessed at the link below. (Source: NeLM - News)

Obama increases Alzheimer's funding

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:47:45 +0100

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The Obama administration officials said Tuesday in Washington it is immediately allocating an additional $50 million for cutting-edge Alzheimer's research. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Komen Foundation VP resigns

CNN.com - Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:25:30 +0100

Karen Handel, a vice president with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, resigned her position Tuesday following a controversy over funding for Planned Parenthood projects, the foundation said. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

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Komen official resigns over Planned Parenthood dispute

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:06:15 +0100

An executive with a major U.S. breast-cancer charity has resigned after a dispute over funding for the best-known family planning organizati ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Pensioners 'passed like parcels' by care agencies

Telegraph Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:00:01 +0100

Elderly people are "passed like parcels" around a chaotic care system that is struggling to cope with funding cuts, a committee of MPs warns. (Source: Telegraph Health)

Alzheimer's research in U.S. gets extra $50 million in funding

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:33:11 +0100

Obama administration wants an effective treatment for the disease developed by 2025 (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Komen VP quits after Planned Parenthood funds restored

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:26:50 +0100

Karen Handel, vice president for public policy of the Dallas-based Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity, has resigned in protest of the group's restoration of funding to Planned Parenthood, according to a Fox News report. In a letter, Handel said that she supported the charity's move last week to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood. The decision was later reversed after a firestorm of protest erupted across the nation. "I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it,” Handel said in her letter... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Komen Foundation VP resigns after funding controversy

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:44:46 +0100

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Komen Official Quits After Controversy

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:23:16 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- A vice-president at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has resigned in the wake of the controversy surrounding the organization's decision -- since reversed -- to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer programs. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Administration boosts funding for Alzheimer's research

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:09:11 +0100

The plan calls for $130 million more for research and $26 million for caregiver support and education. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Komen VP steps down after Planned Parenthood flap

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:40:26 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior executive of the breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure has resigned after a public outcry over the group's decision to cut funding to women's health organization Planned Parenthood. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Komen official quits breast cancer charity over dispute

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:33:33 +0100

An executive with a major U.S. breast-cancer charity has resigned after a dispute over funding for the best-known family planning organizati ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Obama to boost Alzheimer's research funding

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:06:11 +0100

The Obama administration will push for a $156 million increase in funding for Alzheimer's research over the next two years, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

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Komen official quits over Planned Parenthood

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:48:01 +0100

High-ranking official in breast-cancer charity resigns, saying she supported decision to pull Planned Parenthood funding (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Official quits breast cancer charity over funding dispute

CTV Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:44:18 +0100

An executive with a major U.S. breast-cancer charity has resigned after a dispute over funding for the country's best-known family planning organization. The resignation came in a letter obtained by The Associated Press. (Source: CTV Health)

Official quits breast cancer charity over dispute

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:42:17 +0100

An executive with a major U.S. breast-cancer charity has resigned after a dispute over funding for the best-known family planning organizati ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

European Competition for Best Innovations in University Outreach and Public Engagement

Society for Endocrinology — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

As part of the EC-funded ULab project, the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford is organising an online competition to identify the most innovative outreach and public engagement activities carried out by European Universities. Both individuals and groups may apply for awards. Competition submissions must be for an activity that has been initiated and sustained at any university or higher education institution within the 27 EU member states, including projects that might have involved collaboration with institutions outside the EU. The entry can be from one or a number of cooperating universities. The three winning entries will each receive a 5000 EUR prize for their institution as well as funding for a representative to attend the award ceremony at the University of Oxfo...

Important Numbers - Physical Sciences Funding: 1989 to 2009

Science Policy News - FYI - The American Institute of Physics — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:44:51 +0100

(Source: Science Policy News - FYI - The American Institute of Physics)

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Community of Science Transformed to ‘Pivot’

What's New on JEFFLINE — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:41:19 +0100

The old familiar Community of Science (COS) Funding Opportunities database has gone away. In its place, you’ll find the new COS Pivot database. Pivot is a major step forward for COS, combining a much easier searching interface with a new profile option for grant seekers. Rest assured – your funding search still covers all the tens of thousands of opportunities the old database offered. You can still search by title, sponsor, abstract, deadline, amount of award, and more. You’ll be able to get regular alerts, share information about opportunities with colleagues, and track individual opportunities. But click on the Profiles tab, and you’ll find that you probably already have a record in the database, so that potential collaborators can find you and vice versa. Register...

Magic mushrooms, international law and the failed 'war on drugs'

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:36:26 +0100

Recent research suggesting potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin focus attention on the need to reform drug lawsIt's been a busy fortnight. First the publication of two major peer-reviewed research papers about magic mushrooms that attracted worldwide publicity. Then off to Prague for an international drugs policy symposium. And just last week, news of a large grant for our next collaborative study with Imperial College. But I'm getting ahead of myself.I established the Beckley Foundation some 14 years ago as a think tank on drugs policy. It was apparent even then that the "war on drugs" had failed. A 1997 report by the United Nations Drugs Control Programme put the value of the global trade in illicit drugs at around $400bn. Recent UN figures show that global production of opium (u...

Zimbabwe: Global Fund Cancellation Jeopardises Health Sector

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:15:19 +0100

[Financial Gazette] THE termination of funding by the Global Fund could jeopardise Zimbabwe's under-funded health sector in the next two years, stakeholders cautioned this week, amid fears of a reversal in the gains achieved against the HIV and Aids scourge, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, especially in the rural areas. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

L?Or?al-UNESCO Fellowships for Women in Science 2012

Society for Endocrinology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

L’Oréal UK and Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society have partnered together to provide a dedicated UK and Ireland For Women In Science Fellowship Programme for women scientists at postdoctoral level to enable and/or facilitate promising scientific research in the life or physical sciences. Four Fellowships will be awarded in 2012 to outstanding female postdoctoral scientists to assist them with their research. The Fellowships, each worth £15,000 (equivalent ? for candidates in Ireland), are tenable at any UK or Irish university or research institute to support a 12-month period of research. The fellowship money can be spent in any number of innovative ways to enable women scientis...

Could Fire and Rescue Services identify older people at risk of falls? - Laybourne AH, Martin FC, Whiting DG, Lowton K.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:54:53 +0100

Protecting or improving the efficiency and effectiveness of services while reducing costs in response to public sector funding reductions is a significant challenge for all public service organisations. Preventing falls in older people is a major public he... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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UNICEF Funding Falls Short Leaving Millions of Children at Risk

IPS Inter Press Service - Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:54:48 +0100

If the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had 1.28 billion dollars it could help 97 million people around the world. (Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health)

Bill Gates backs climate scientists lobbying for large-scale geoengineering

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:18:00 +0100

Other wealthy individuals have also funded a series of reports into the future use of technologies to geoengineer the climate• What is geo-engineering?• Scientists criticise handling of geoengineering pilot projectA small group of leading climate scientists, financially supported by billionaires including Bill Gates, are lobbying governments and international bodies to back experiments into manipulating the climate on a global scale to avoid catastrophic climate change.The scientists, who advocate geoengineering methods such as spraying millions of tonnes of reflective particles of sulphur dioxide 30 miles above earth, argue that a "plan B" for climate change will be needed if the UN and politicians cannot agree to making the necessary cuts in greenhouse gases, and say the US governme...

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Loan Guarantees Under the Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) for Fiscal Year 2012

Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

This is a request for proposals from the Rural Housing Service for guaranteed loans under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program to increase the supply of affordable rural rental housing through the use of loan guarantees that encourage partnerships between the Agency, private lenders, and public agencies. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces Funding to Create Jobs and Strengthen the Economic Foundation of Rural America

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that USDA has selected 298 recipients in 44 states and Puerto Rico to receive business development assistance through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Social media fuels Planned Parenthood backers in Komen protest

Computerworld Health Care News — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:41:52 +0100

Fueled by a firestorm of outrage on Twitter and Facebook, the people behind the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Friday backed off their decision to cut funding of Planned Parenthood programs. (Source: Computerworld Health Care News)

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Denise Richards: "We Never Gave Up..."

Kidney Cancer Association — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:23:00 +0100

Denise Richards: "I was recently given the opportunity to discuss an issue that's very near to my heart with "Living with Cancer" magazine. In the cover story, I share my personal experience with my mother's battle with kidney cancer. I hope you take a look and pass it along—the first part of prevention is awareness." Now, you can help Denise to create greater awareness of kidney cancer and the need for funding to support research aimed at eliminating death and suffereing from this disease. Upload a photo or a video that demonstrates your commitment to this cause. We'll fly the winner to Hollywood for a lunch date with Denise Richards. Click the orange PROMO tab on this page for details on entering the contest. 02...

Planned Parenthood holds Arizona fundraiser after Komen flap

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:42:25 +0100

Planned Parenthood’s political arm in Arizona will hold a fundraising event next month with Planned Parenthood Federation of America CEO Cecile Richards. The event comes on the heels of the abortion-fueled national controversy involving Planned Parenthood and whether it will receive funding from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The March 15 annual luncheon and fundraiser will benefit Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, the political advocacy arm of the women’s health group and abortion provider... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Rupert Sheldrake: the 'heretic' at odds with scientific dogma

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:04:00 +0100

Rupert Sheldrake has researched telepathy in dogs, crystals and Chinese medicine in his quest to explore phenomena that science finds hard to explainIt is not often, in liberal north London, that you come face to face with a heretic, but Rupert Sheldrake has worn that mantle, pretty cheerfully, for 30 years now. Sitting in his book-lined study, overlooking Hampstead Heath, he appears a highly unlikely candidate for apostasy; he seems more like the Cambridge biochemistry don he once was, one of the brightest Darwinians of his generation, winner of the university botany prize, researcher at the Royal Society, Harvard scholar and fellow of Clare College.All that, though, was before he was cast out into the wilderness. Sheldrake's untouchable status was conferred one morning in 1981 when, a co...

YMCA's 'Fit Start' Program Aims to Curb Childhood Obesity

RWJF News Digest - Childhood Obesity — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:24:10 +0100

School funding cuts and a focus on academics over physical fitness has emptied playgrounds and stalled physical education programs across the country, causing the childhood obesity rate to skyrocket. That prompted Phillip Newman, wellness director at the Bob Sierra YMCA Youth & Family Center, to brainstorm a solution. His idea came to fruition last August, when Newman started the Fit Start program at the YMCA. The program allows kids and teenagers to participate in physical activity through activities such as obstacle courses, spinning, zumba classes and boot-camp style training. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Childhood Obesity)

Komen Reverses Stance on Planned Parenthood Grants

NYT — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:11:47 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation apologized for its decision to cut grants to Planned Parenthood for cancer screening and said it would restore the funding. (Source: NYT)

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[Comment] How the Health and Social Care Bill 2011 would end entitlement to comprehensive health care in England

LANCET — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The National Health Service (NHS) in England has been a leading international model of tax-financed, universal health care. Legal analysis shows that the Health and Social Care Bill currently making its way through the UK Parliament would abolish that model and pave the way for the introduction of a US-style health system by eroding entitlement to equality of health-care provision. The Bill severs the duty of the Secretary of State for Health to secure comprehensive health care throughout England and introduces competitive markets and structures consistent with greater inequality of provision, mixed funding, and widespread provision by private health corporations. (Source: LANCET)

Komen Reverses Stance on Planned Parenthood Grants

NYT Health — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:13:12 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation apologized for its decision to cut grants to Planned Parenthood for cancer screening and said it would restore the funding. (Source: NYT Health)

Abercrombie to sign organ transplant funding bill into law

bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:50:56 +0100

Hawaii lawmakers on Friday passed legislation for about $1.8 million in emergency funds for kidney and liver transplants in the state. Gov. Neil Abercrombie plans to sign House Bill 608 into law on Saturday at The Queen's Medical Center. The law will appropriate emergency funds, subject to private matching funds, for the transplants, as well as to support a chronic kidney disease management program. Hawaii was left without an organ transplant center after the closure last month of Hawaii Medical Center East, which ran the state's only organ transplant program before it stopped taking patients in December... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)

New Rural Health Information Technology (HIT) Toolkit

NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region Blog — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:30:14 +0100

The Rural Assistance Center and the National Rural Health Resources Center recently announced the release of an online health IT toolkit aimed at helping rural health care providers plan and implement health IT projects. HHS’ Office of Rural Health Policy provided funding to support the development of the online toolkit (AHA News, 1/27). Toolkit Details [...] (Source: NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region Blog)

Susan G. Komen reverses Planned Parenthood funding move

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:04:26 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation on Friday said it has reversed its decision about funding grants for Planned Parenthood. The organization, which has Cincinnati affiliate, said earlier this week that it would not fund grant applications to groups under federal investigation, which includes Planned Parenthood. Culture Map reports that after the initial Komen announcement, Planned Parenthood received more than $400,000 in donations in 24 hours. A Friday statement from Nancy Brinker, the founder of the foundation, apologized for upsetting its supporters and partners with the funding removal, and said the foundation will “ensure that politics has no place in our grant process... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Komen reverses decision on funding Planned Parenthood

USATODAY.com Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:43:02 +0100

Amid pressure and furor from critics, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation reversed a decision to end Planned Parenthood grants. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

A Time for Unity

AIBS BioScience Editorials — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:27:54 +0100

Although the US public remains for the most part favorably disposed to scientists, politically inspired efforts to discredit some kinds of science continue and could gain traction during what is likely to be an angry election year. Researchers, especially those working in fields that do not seem to offer the near-term promise of profitable products, have good reason to be apprehensive about their funding. Budget anxieties are driving up pressure on legislators to enact substantial cuts, and the brinksmanship on Capitol Hill suggests that ill-considered measures could be enacted through political grandstanding. Researchers worried about the future of the research enterprise should make efforts to stay informed and be ready to argue for its importance whenever the opportunity arises. The Un...

Komen Reverses Move to Cut Planned Parenthood FundingKomen Reverses Move to Cut Planned Parenthood Funding

Medscape Today Headlines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:18:29 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation backed down from its decision to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, which had thrust the world's largest breast cancer charity into a deeply politicized controversy. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Susan G. Komen reverses Planned Parenthood funding move

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:08:57 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation on Friday said it has reversed its decision about funding grants for Planned Parenthood. The organization, which has an Albany, New York, affiliate, said earlier this week that it would not fund grant applications to groups under federal investigation, which includes Planned Parenthood. Culture Map reports that after the initial Komen announcement, Planned Parenthood received more than $400,000 in donations in 24 hours. A Friday statement from Nancy Brinker, the founder of the foundation, apologized for upsetting its supporters and partners with the funding removal, and said the foundation will “ensure that politics has no place in our grant process... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Susan G. Komen Starts U-Turn After Planned Parenthood Cut-Off

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0100

After announcing that it was going to cut funding for Planned Parenthood's breast screenings, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a breast cancer foundation, today announced that it is changing its funding criteria, meaning it will probably resume funding to Planned Parenthood, a sexual health organization. The public outcry regarding alleged reasons for Planned Parenthood being dropped as a grantee by Komen appears to have taken the breast cancer charity by surprise... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Komen reverses move to cut Planned Parenthood funding

Reuters: Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:31:44 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Susan G. Komen for the Cure said on Friday it was retreating from a decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion and birth control services, and apologized for a move that thrust the world's largest breast cancer charity into a deeply politicized controversy. (Source: Reuters: Health)

TigerText nabs $8.2 million to secure health text messages

mobihealthnews — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:04:11 +0100

TigerText, which offers secure mobile messaging to healthcare companies, announced an $8.2 million round of funding led by Easton Capital and New Science Ventures. This second round of funding brings the company’s total backing to more than $10 million. The Santa Monica-based company’s flagship product, TigerText Pro for Business, enables HIPAA-compliant messaging between nurses, physicians, and [...] (Source: mobihealthnews)

Komen Reverses Planned Parenthood Funding Cut

MedPage Today Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:31:57 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has reversed its decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screening and education. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Health Highlights: Feb. 3, 2012

Primary Care News - Doctors Lounge — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:04:00 +0100

Komen Breast Cancer Group Restores Planned Parenthood Funding Cooked Eggs Recalled in 34 States Sibling Study Suggests Drug Addiction Is 'Hard Wired' Taco Bell Identified as Source of Salmonella Outbreak Army Bans Exercise Supplements After Soldiers' Deaths Fungicide Levels in Orange Juice Don't Pose Health Risk: FDA (Source: Primary Care News - Doctors Lounge)

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Zimbabwe: Improved Aids Levy Collections Fill Part of Funding Gap

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:34:43 +0100

[PlusNews] Harare - With global funding for on the decline, Zimbabwe's innovative AIDS levy - a 3 percent tax on income - has become a promising source of funding for the country, with a dramatic increase in revenue collected in the past two years. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

House Bill Would Gouge Rural Transit

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Daily Yonder article discusses how rural transportation leaders are speaking out against a proposal before Congress that would cut funding for needed public transit programs. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Australia attempts to enact scientific dictatorship at universities by banishing alternative medicine courses

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Self-proclaimed advocates of "science-based" medicine are hard at work trying to eliminate government funding for any form of medical education or treatment that is not conventional in nature. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a new lobbying group of 400 "doctors... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Ask Washington State Legislators to Preserve Funding for the Neurodevelopmental Centers

ASHA Action Alerts — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: ASHA Action Alerts)

Geneticist receives EU funding to build DNA data matrix of ancient domestic animals

EurekAlert! - Biology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Trinity College Dublin) The project will use state-of-the-art genetic tools to build up a DNA data matrix of domestic animals over the last 10,000 years. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)

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NICE to help improve access to NICE-approved drugs by developing a best practice guide to formulary development

NeLM - News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: NICE Area: News The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has announced that it is to produce a best practice guide to help trusts develop local formularies. The development of the guide is part of a move to ensure that all patients in England have access to clinically and cost-effective drugs. The press release from NICE notes that at present there is no standard process or advice for putting together a local formulary which has led to variations across the country. Additionally, a recent report into innovation from the Department of Health identified that not all local formularies are including all of NICE's technology appraisals, thus contributing to a postcode lottery. The report also outlines plans to introduce, within three months, a NICE Co...

Neurodevelopmental delay in small babies at term. A systematic review

Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractBackground: Being small for gestational age (SGA) or having fetal growth restriction (FGR) may be associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to being appropriate for gestational age (AGA). The aim of this paper was to evaluate the existence and magnitude of decrease in neurodevelopmental scores in SGA and FGR infants born at term from a systematic review of the existing literature.Methods: Studies of neurodevelopment in SGA/FGR babies were identified from a search of the internet scientific databases. Studies which included preterm births and those that did not define absolute indices of standardised cognitive outcome were excluded. SGA was defined as birthweight below the 10th centile for gestation and FGR as the same birthweight standard with abnormal umbilical a...

Neurodevelopmental delay in small babies at term. A systematic review.

The Ultrasound Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Arcangeli T, Thilaganathan B, Hooper R, Khan KS, Bhide A Abstract Background: Being small for gestational age (SGA) or having fetal growth restriction (FGR) may be associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to being appropriate for gestational age (AGA). The aim of this paper was to evaluate the existence and magnitude of decrease in neurodevelopmental scores in SGA and FGR infants born at term from a systematic review of the existing literature. Methods: Studies of neurodevelopment in SGA/FGR babies were identified from a search of the internet scientific databases. Studies which included preterm births and those that did not define absolute indices of standardised cognitive outcome were excluded. SGA was defined as birthweight below the 10(th) centile fo...

Kenya: Patients Demand More Funds for Aids Drugs

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:41:23 +0100

[Nation] People living with HIV/Aids and rights activists have protested against lack of funding and a government policy they say is intent on stripping the disease of its special status. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

Nonprofits' Backers Mobilize

WSJ.com: Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:10:56 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity grappled with the fallout from its decision to cut funding for Planned Parenthood affiliates, as both groups saw a surge in donations. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)

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Funding Bill May Address Drug Shortages: AidesFunding Bill May Address Drug Shortages: Aides

Medscape Pharmacist Headlines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:01:21 +0100

Legislation aimed at relieving shortages of crucial drugs to treat cancer and other illnesses may get momentum next week when lawmakers decide whether to attach it to a must-pass funding bill for the FDA. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Pharmacist Headlines)

Malaria kills twice as many people as previously thought, research finds

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:41:00 +0100

Malaria kills 1.2 million people every year, a finding that has implications for global efforts to eliminate the diseaseMalaria kills twice as many people every year as formerly believed, taking 1.2 million lives and causing the deaths not only of babies but also older children and adults, according to research that overturns decades of assumptions about one of the world's most lethal diseases.The findings from the research, published on Friday, which has reanalysed 30 years of data on the disease using new techniques, will force a rethink of the huge global effort that has been under way to eliminate malaria. That ambition now looks highly unlikely by the UN target date of 2015.It also raises urgent questions about the future of the troubled Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria, whic...

Komen struggles to defuse Planned Parenthood crisis

Reuters: Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:01:37 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The world's leading breast cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, struggled on Thursday to defuse a growing crisis over its decision to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion and birth control services. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Virtual Reality Contact Lenses Could Be Available by 2014

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Contact lenses that help enhance normal vision with megapixel 3D panoramic images are being designed by scientists using military funding. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Breast Cancer Action donations surge after Komen-Planned Parenthood fiasco

bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:32:25 +0100

Believe it or not, there is a beneficiary of the controversial decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to not continue funding breast cancer screening at Planned Parenthood centers. San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Action saw donations from its recent email alerts surge 30-fold from the average volume of click-throughs from the alerts, said spokeswoman Angela Wall. It sent out two alerts Wednesday about the change in Komen’s grant process, which Planned Parenthood has charged was based on pressure from antiabortion activists, and how the change affects Planned Parenthood... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)

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Despite Flat Budget, NIH’s TRND Program Tries to Spark Interest in Rare and Neglected Diseases

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:59:50 +0100

With 14 approved programs in total, TRND has progressed two into clinical development. For the past two years NIH has been trying to double its funds for developing orphan drugs. But the FY 2012 budget offered more of the same, as in the same $24 million of annual funding set aside for NIH’s Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases (TRND) program since its creation in 2009. The institute had sought $50 million for TRND this year and last. (Source: Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy)

Auxogyn raises $20M in Series A funds

bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:56:52 +0100

Auxogyn Inc. said Thursday it has closed of the final tranche of its Series A funding. The private Menlo Park-based company is focused on advancing women's reproductive health and has raised $20 million to date. It specializes in a non-invasive early embryo viability assessment system called Eeva. According to a prepared statement, the initial tranche was placed in May 2010, and investors in the round include Menlo Park-based Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, San Francisco-based TPG Biotech and Merck Serono Ventures, the strategic venture capital fund of Merck Serono, the division for biopharmaceuticals of German chemical and pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)

Abortion Had No Role in Planned Parenthood Move, Komen Group Says

MedPage Today Infectious Disease — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:43:06 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, facing a hail of criticism for cutting off funding of breast exams at Planned Parenthood, has denied that abortion played a role in its decision. (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)

Komen move on Planned Parenthood sparks abortion row

Reuters: Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:39:47 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut funding for Planned Parenthood erupted into a crisis over abortion rights on Thursday, fueling an angry public debate about the future of the leading breast cancer charity. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Komen charity denies abortion pressure in funding shift

Reuters: Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:20:44 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Thursday denied political pressure from anti-abortion groups had anything to do with its decision to cut off funding for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, trying to contain a crisis between the two leading women's health groups. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Call to 'tax sugar like alcohol'

NHS News Feed — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0100

This article will be of interest to food scientists, health policy makers and the public alike, but the use of strategies to restrict the consumption of added sugar is complicated and, indeed controversial. The implications of such moves would need to be considered in both medical and societal terms. They would need both medical evidence to support their effectiveness and assurance that the public would accept drastic changes, such as age limits on buying sweets. For example, in recent years, Denmark has imposed taxes on fatty foods, a move that has divided opinions greatly. It is generally accepted that added sugar or excessive sugar consumption is bad for health and dietitians advise restricting sugar intake to the occasional “treat”. However, to what extent sugar is directly to blam...

Congo-Kinshasa: Alarm Bells Over Poor Funding for HIV Treatment

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:05:10 +0100

[PlusNews] Naihasa - The lives of thousands of HIV-positive people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are at risk as the country faces declining donor funding and a severe shortage of HIV treatment, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

Komen's blow to Planned Parenthood and women

CNN.com - Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:47:52 +0100

Laura Stepp: Komen Foundation's decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood is a blow to poor women, who have no other option for reproductive health services. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Funding shortage blamed as Primary Care Cardiovascular Society closes

HealthcareRepublic Pharmacist News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:41:00 +0100

The Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) has been forced to close due to a shortage of funding, and other primary care groups warn they face similar pressures. (Source: HealthcareRepublic Pharmacist News)

CCG management cap hinders push for GP quality

HealthcareRepublic Pharmacist News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:07:00 +0100

Improving the quality of general practice will be difficult for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) because the government cap on their management funding is so low, according to a CCG leader. (Source: HealthcareRepublic Pharmacist News)

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Africa: Global Fund Shake-Up Signals New Direction

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:42:31 +0100

[PlusNews] Nainnesburg - The appointment of a new general manager, Gabriel Jaramillo, at the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis could be a "turning point" for the troubled organization, which has suffered from a funding crisis and allegations of corruption. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

During Pregnancy, Consuming Fish Improves Offspring's Cognitive Development And Prosocial Conduct

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

This study was conducted within the framework of the NUTRIMENTHE project ("Effect of diet on offspring's cognitive development"), which received funding of 5... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Research Excellence Framework panel criteria published

MEDEV News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:56:03 +0100

The final criteria and working methods that the Research Excellence Framework (REF) panels will use when assessing research are published today. Publication of this information, by the REF team on behalf of the four UK higher education funding bodies, is a key stage in preparations for the REF. Through the REF, the quality of research in all UK Universities and higher education colleges will be assessed, and the results will be used by the UK funding bodies to allocate research funding. Universities and higher education colleges will be invited to submit their highest quality research in 36 subject groupings called units of assessment (UOAs). The submissions will be assessed by an expert sub-panel for each UOA, working under the leadership and guidance of four main panels. Today's guidanc...

Reminder: SFC proposals for implementing Putting Learners at the Centre

MEDEV News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:53:13 +0100

This a a joint consultation issued jointly by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council. It represents the next step in the Government's plans to reform post-16 learning in Scotland. (Source: MEDEV News)

Decisions on HEFCE funding for higher education 2012-13

MEDEV News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:53:18 +0100

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announced its funding decisions for higher education in England following the annual grant letter (Note 1) from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and subsequent decisions by the HEFCE Board. This announcement covers HEFCE funding for the academic year 2012-13 (Note 2). The overall level of government support for teaching in universities and colleges is set to increase over the next few years as a result of higher tuition fee loans under the Government’s new finance arrangements for higher education. HEFCE’s grant will reduce accordingly, but our commitment to supporting high-cost and strategically important subjects, widening participation and smaller specialist institutions will be maintained. HEFCE...

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Planned Parenthood supporters denounce Komen's funding halt

Los Angeles Times - Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:39:00 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure's move to end funding for Planned Parenthood affiliates elicits criticism and a fundraising drive to replace the lost money. Komen officials defend the decision.He won't be sporting that pink tie anymore. (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)

Japan to consolidate research organizations

Physics Today News Picks — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Nature: The Japanese government is preparing to merge five of its science organizations: the RIKEN network of basic research laboratories, the National Institute for Materials Science, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency. The change is intended to increase efficiency while reducing costs. The agencies involved would pool research and administrative resources, and a supervisory body that covers all five agencies will probably be established. Few details are known about the timing or potential cost savings, and some researchers have expressed concern that the end result would be deep funding cuts and increased bureaucracy. (Source: Physics Today News Pi...

NHS to get £28m cash boost to improve access to dentists

NHS Networks — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

820,000 more people have already been given access to an NHS dentist since May 2010. Twenty eight million pounds of funding will be announced, which will bring the number of extra people now able to access an NHS dentist to one million. The funding will be given to PCTs, who have bid for the cash to spend on expanding local services in ways that best meet their patients’ needs. (Source: NHS Networks)

Komen Funds For Planned Parenthood Still In The Pink

About.com Breast Cancer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Pink Ribbon Money Art © Pam Stephan After a 3-day, hot pink, social media blitzkrieg, Komen for the Cure went back to Plan A. Instead of de-funding Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), they are continuing to provide the money that is earmarked for breast health services for 2012. Nancy Brinker, CEO of the Komen Foundation issued this statement: "We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities."...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Breast Cancer)

Less is more: why rare disease funding is on the up

Drug Development Technology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Despite reductions in R&D spending, clinical trials for rare diseases are going full steam ahead. Elly Earls speaks to Alastair Kent of Genetic Alliance UK, Tim Cote of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and Dr Steve Groft of the Off… (Source: Drug Development Technology)

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Susan G. Komen cuts ties with Planned Parenthood

Health News: CBSNews.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:24 +0100

Why did world's largest cancer charity halt funding to Planned Parenthood? Abortion debate in mix (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Higher Education Academy health sciences newsletter

MEDEV News — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:43:49 +0100

The new Health Sciences team at the Higher Education Academy have just issued their first newsletter containing details of apointments, news, events and funding opportunities. It can be viewed here - HealthScinewsletter1 (Source: MEDEV News)

[Networks of National Reference Centers and associated Consiliary Laboratories in Germany].

Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Laude G, Kist M, Krause G Abstract Since 1995, the Robert Koch-Institute in agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health in Germany has increased the funding of National Reference Centers (NRC) and Consiliary Laboratories (CL) for laboratory-based surveillance of selected infection pathogens and infectious disease syndromes. Their goal is to improve efficient protection from infections and to supplement infectious disease surveillance by monitoring selected pathogens. Currently there are 19 NRC and 48 CL, nominated for a duration of 3 years. In order to enhance the effectiveness and cooperation of the system, ten National Networks were launched in 2009. The aim of these networks is to facilitate exchange on diagnostic methods and prevention concepts and to improve the ge...

Global Health - Does It Help with Family Medicine Recruitment? (David Holmes MD)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Global Health Education - how does it help with FM recruitment? How is it done with funding? (Source: Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded)

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Predictors of Sustainability of Social Programs

American Journal of Evaluation — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This article presents the findings of a large scale study that tested a comprehensive model of predictors of three manifestations of sustainability: continuation, institutionalization, and duration. Based on the literature the predictors were arrayed in four groups: variables pertaining to the project, the auspice organization, the community, and the main funder. The total sample consisted of 197 projects. Informants were asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire, pertaining to the predictor and outcome variables. The findings show both a different model of predictors for each manifestation of sustainability and commonalities among them. Both financial and human factors were involved in all the manifestations of sustainability. Of the financial factors, diversity of funding sources was th...

Strategies for Biomarker Development in Psoriatic Disease: A Report from the GRAPPA 2010 Annual Meeting.

J Rheumatol — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Ritchlin CT Abstract Psoriatic disease includes psoriasis and associated comorbidities (arthritis, uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and anxiety/depression) and is remarkably diverse in disease presentation and course. The marked heterogeneity of musculoskeletal involvement in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) presents major challenges to clinicians regarding diagnosis, risk stratification, and management. Members of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) have begun collaborative efforts to develop biomarkers that can assist in the diagnosis and management of patients with psoriasis and related comorbidities. This brief review provides a rationale for biomarker research in PsA, consideratio...

Breast cancer charity ends Planned Parenthood funding

Reuters: Health — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:01:26 +0100

(Reuters) - Planned Parenthood said on Tuesday that the leading U.S. breast-cancer charity would no longer provide new funding to the group, which performs abortions and other services at clinics around the country. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Funding bill may address drug shortages-aides

Reuters: Health — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:14:49 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation aimed at relieving shortages of crucial drugs used to treat cancer and other illnesses may get momentum next week when lawmakers decide whether to attach it to a must-pass funding bill for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, congressional aides said on Tuesday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

DH adviser reveals quality premium for CCGs 'not linked to GMS funding'

HealthcareRepublic Pharmacist News — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The quality premium payment for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) is unlikely to come from existing GP funding, a DH adviser has revealed. (Source: HealthcareRepublic Pharmacist News)

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What ‘Uniting to combat tropical diseases’ will really require

MSF News — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:26:00 +0100

By Unni Karunakara, physician and international president of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (Originally published Jan. 31 in the Huffington Post UK online) Performing a spinal tap under field conditions is nerve-wracking. Sticking a needle into someone’s spine to extract spinal fluid is painful and risky and that’s just the doctor’s perspective. But it’s also something that our doctors have to do every day as part of routine tests for advanced-stage sleeping sickness. Try too, then, to imagine the experience from the patient’s side. When I was responsible for MSF’s sleeping sickness programs in Republic of Congo, even the prospect of the test was sometimes too much and people took to their heels rather than undergo the procedure. So we at MSF welcome the commitments made a...

NSF Releases 2012 Science and Engineering Indicators

Public Policy Reports — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:37:03 +0100

Worldwide expenditures on research and development (R&D) have increased dramatically over the past decade, but the United State’s lead is slipping, according to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) recently released Science and Engineering Indicators 2012. The report highlights major developments in international and U.S. science and technology. The combined R&D investments of 10 Asian nations, including China, India, and Japan, now match U.S. expenditures on science at about $400 billion a year. Most of the growth in Asia was driven by China, where R&D spending grew by 28 percent between 2008 and 2009. In the U.S., science expenditures declined by 0.3 percent over the same period. The decline in domestic spending was due to reduced funding by private industry, ...

Learn about the Political Highs and Lows for Science in 2011

Public Policy Reports — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:37:03 +0100

Now that 2011 is in the books, it is worth pausing briefly to consider some of the year’s notable science policy developments at the White House, in the Capitol, and across the nation. Among the highlights: Congress nearly shutdown the federal government in April by failing to reach a compromise on fiscal year 2011 spending. A last minute spending deal cut budgets for nearly all federal science programs. President Obama signed into law a reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act. Federal agencies developed policies to ensure scientific integrity. In July, a federal judge dismissed a case brought against the federal government that had previously halted federally funded research involving human embryonic stem cells. Dr. John C. Wingfield was named the new Assistant Director for N...

AIBS Public Policy Office 2011 Annual Report Now Available

Public Policy Reports — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:37:03 +0100

The AIBS Public Policy Office 2011 Annual Report is now online. Learn about our activities and accomplishments last year and find out how you can participate in the future. A few key accomplishments from 2011: Helped to secure $173 million in new funding for the National Science Foundation. Defended peer review and social science research from political attacks. Influenced the development of sound scientific integrity policies at the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency. Organized a petition signed by 2,900 students on the importance of federal investments in scientific research and education programs. Helped secure the right of federal scientists to fully participate in scientific professional societies. To ...

Settlement ups UK universities dependency on fees

Chemistry World | Latest News — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:08:27 +0100

Grant letter holds research funding steady while student numbers are set to drop next year (Source: Chemistry World | Latest News)

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How to make your JISC funding bid stand out from the crowd

MEDEV News — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:51:43 +0100

Are you looking to secure JISC funding this year? As competition grows for funds, our advice on successful bidding can help you make a strong application.Sarah Porter, director of innovation at JISC, said: “We want to attract bids from a wide range of universities and colleges, those that know JISC well and others that might be bidding for the first time or need additional help with their application. We know bidding for funds is a time-consuming process and we are therefore aiming to give organisations the best possible chance of being successful in their applications.”JISC advice for successful bidding includes:* Describe how your proposed project meets the criteria set out in the call* Demonstrate how your idea is aligned with the objectives of your college or institut...

A Team Approach to Improving Colorectal Cancer Services Using Administrative Health Data

Health Research Policy and Systems — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The objectives of this paper are to: 1) provide a detailed description of the methodologies employed across the various studies being conducted by Team ACCESS; 2) demonstrate how administrative health data can be used to evaluate access and quality in CRC services; and 3) provide an example of an interdisciplinary team approach to addressing health service delivery issues. Methods: All patients diagnosed with CRC in NS between 2001 and 2005 were identified through the Nova Scotia Cancer Registry (NSCR) and staged using the Collaborative Stage Data Collection System. Using administrative databases that were linked at the patient level, Team ACCESS created a retrospective longitudinal cohort with comprehensive demographic, clinical, and healthcare utilization data. These data were used to ex...

Combatting tropical diseases

MSF News — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:55:00 +0100

The Gates Foundation-hosted conference held in London Monday, ‘Uniting To Combat Tropical Diseases,’ draws attention to devastating tropical illnesses that have been neglected for too long. However, the ambitious goals to eliminate or control 10 neglected tropical diseases will only be credible when some critical remaining gaps are filled, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). “Though we are delighted that the World Health Organisation (WHO), donors and development agencies are finally drawing attention to neglected tropical diseases, we are concerned that challenges for some of these diseases are being glossed over,” says Daniel Berman, deputy director of MSF’s Access Campaign. “Expanded drug donations from the pharmaceutical industry will be part of the solution, bu...

Boost to Venezuela's science funding remains under fire

SciDev.Net — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:14:28 +0100

A controversial science reform that gave the Venezuelan government more control over a private sector R&D tax has boosted science funding. (Source: SciDev.Net)

Care in crisis 2012

The Kings Fund - Health Management Specialist Collection — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:46:15 +0100

This report reveals that this year spending on older people’s social care in England has fallen by £500 million and the funding gap is growing. It projects that by 2012-2013 the Government would need to spend £1 billion more than this year to stop the situation getting any worse. Report Age UK - publications (Source: The Kings Fund - Health Management Specialist Collection)

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Uniting against Neglected Tropical Diseases

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:32:00 +0100

LONDON, United Kingdom Bill Gates, the world’s leading 13 pharmaceutical companies, governments and global organisations have announced unprecedented funding and support to eliminate and control 10 neglected tropical diseases (NTD) by 2020.More than US $785 million will be donated to control or eliminate these infections that affect around 1.4 billion people in 149 endemic countries. These infections kill or cause disability among the world’s poorest people mainly in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

'Unfair' funding will prompt CCGs to 'go it alone'

Management in Practice — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:33:00 +0100

Variations in commissioning budgets could prevent CCGs from working together to mediate risk (Source: Management in Practice)

Research co-ordinator, Prostate Action

Society for Endocrinology — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Prostate Action are seeking a research co-ordinator to manage the annual grant round and act as point of contact for all Prostate Action funded researchers. The main duties of the postholder will be to: plan and manage the annual grant round, including placing adverts, ensuring forms and the website are up to date and co-ordinating the scientific committee and peer review process; act as main point of contact for all Prostate Action grant holders, ensuring reports are received in a timely manner and payments are made accordingly; manage the training grants budget, including deciding with the CEO which small grants receive funding; work with the CEO on research conferences, including the Young Prostate Researchers group; and act as main scientific spokesperson for the charity with regard ...

Warning as social care funding falls £0.5bn

HSJ — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:46:00 +0100

Spending on older people’s social care in England has fallen by half a billion pounds, according to a new report. (Source: HSJ)

Federal Budget 2012-2013: Supporting quality general practice for the future

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Media Releases — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:53:22 +0100

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging the Federal Government to provide more funding for general practice healthcare in the upcoming May Federal Budget to ensure communities receive the high quality care they deserve. (Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Media Releases)

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As Global Fund Turns Ten, Lack of Political Support to Health Threatens Gains Against AIDS, TB, and Malaria

MSF News — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:24:00 +0100

South Africa 2011 © Chelsea Maclachlan/Le Monde A woman receives antiretroviral medication at an MSF clinic in Cape Town. While MSF relies solely on private donors, a loss of funding from the Global Fund will leave thousands without treatment. NAIROBI, JANUARY 30, 2012 - As the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria marks its tenth anniversary—and on the heels of its leadership changes—people living with HIV/AIDS and those delivering and supporting HIV and TB treatment took to the streets as they warned that the political commitment made 10 years ago to address global health is evaporating, and that drastic funding shortfalls could cause an unraveling of a decade’s progress against the three diseases. The Global Fund Board in November took t...

Food Industry Urges Obama Administration to Reject Food Safety Fees

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A coalition of more than 30 food industry groups wrote to the Obama administration Monday urging officials to request more congressional funding for food safety efforts instead of relying on food taxes. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

The dog particle

Genome Biology — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In a big announcement suspiciously soon before their funding is renewed, canine researchers have news about the Briggs Noson (Source: Genome Biology)

Komen Withdraws Support From Planned Parenthood

About.com Breast Cancer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Pink Ribbon Balancing Act Art © Pam Stephan Donors Replace SGK Funds in 24 Hours Komen for the Cure, a well-established breast cancer charity, has stopped funding clinical breast exams and mammograms at Planned Parenthood affiliates and clinics. Komen's spokeswoman Leslie Aun told the media that their foundation has recently adopted a rule that prohibits the giving of grants to organizations that are under government investigation. Planned Parenthood is currently under a congressional investigation by the House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, led by Rep. Cliff Stearns of Florida. In 2011, Komen granted $680,000 to Planned Parenthood for breast health exams....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Breast Cancer)

Alma telescope glimpses space's mysteries from on top of the world

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:04:00 +0100

Alma, a super-sensitive radio telescope 5,000m above sea level in Chile, will detect a new galaxy every three minutesSpend a few days with astronomers at the world's most sophisticated telescopes in the mountains of Chile, and your skin will begin to feel different. Cheeks become stretched a little tighter; hands and lips get chapped. It seems to make little difference how much water you drink. Spend a few weeks here and, the astronomers will tell you, the headaches and dizziness start. "You really feel it when you've been here a long time," says Jonathan Smoker, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) at Mount Paranal in northern Chile. "Sometimes my hands start to bleed because it's so dry here."The scientists and technicians who work here are not allowed to stay on the ...

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Blog Post » Balancing Immediate Needs with Future Innovation

National Institute of Mental Health — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:13:57 +0100

Dr. Insel responds to discussion from the National Advisory Mental Health Council concerning the need to balance research funding for basic science and mental health services. (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)

[Comment] Offline: A shot in the dark

LANCET — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Every 5 years in Britain, a gargantuan exercise in judging the performance of our research-based universities takes place. The Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE), for example, will spend £1·6 billion in 2011–12 on research in English universities. (A friend of mine in Italy almost choked on his cappuccino when I told him this figure.) But how should HEFCE, and similar bodies in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, judge who gets what? In the past, institutions have competed in a Research Assessment Exercise. (Source: LANCET)

[Correspondence] Action to preserve WHO's core functions cannot wait for organisational reform

LANCET — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

While WHO undergoes a wide-ranging reform sparked by a US$300 million budget shortfall, the agency is facing an exodus of qualified staff that is affecting its ability to work. The Executive Board is due to meet on Jan 16 to agree long-term principles and priorities for the organisation; it must ensure, in particular, that core functions are accorded the priority they merit. Oxfam is especially concerned that inadequate funding will severely diminish the WHO Essential Medicines Department, which for more than three decades has had an indispensable role in enabling developing countries to access affordable medicines. (Source: LANCET)

A Model for Treating the Uninsured

Sound Medicine — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:00:01 +0100

For the past 20 years, an unusual clinic in Baltimore has been providing comprehensive care to uninsured patients -- without government funding. The Shepherd's Clinic relies on medical professionals to volunteer their services and depends on patients to pay a voluntary fee of an hour's wage. Sound Medicine reporter Scott Goldberg meets with Shepherd's Clinic founder Jack VandenHengel and i.... (Source: Sound Medicine)

A working life: the geneticist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:02:30 +0100

Joe Rainger might still have been a chef, but for a degree change that took him out of the kitchen and plunged him into a world of DNA researchPeople born with abnormal eyes could – within our lifetime – benefit from replacements that match their own DNA, thanks to research by scientists like Joe Rainger.The 35-year-old geneticist is researching a mutation in human genes that causes microphthalmia (one or both eyes abnormally small), anophthalmia (absence of one or both eyes), and coloboma (a gap in the structure of the eye). The conditions are recessive; which means you need both parents to carry the defective gene for the conditions to appear. They are therefore most common in families where first cousins marry.Rainger, who works at the Medical Research Council's human genetics unit ...

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Spotlight! and Breezing webinar recordings from January are now archived!

Midcontinental Region News — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:09:04 +0100

The January 25, Spotlight! session focusing on National Library of Medicine Digital Resources, was presented by Marty Magee. It included such resources as Turning the Pages, and History of Medicine Resources, tutorials and much more! See it at: http://nnlm.gov/mcr/services/updates/spotlightresources.html And the January 18, Breezing session included: 1) Jean Shipman, Director of the MidContinental Region and NLM Training Center, discussed potential futures for health sciences librarians and thus libraries and 2) Claire Hamasu, Associate Director, described current funding opportunities and discussed the MCR Communication Plan. View the archived recording at: http://nnlm.gov/mcr/services/updates/index.html (Source: Midcontinental Region News)

US immunologists to honor DMS' Green

News at Dartmouth Medical School — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:00:56 +0100

The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) will honor Dartmouth Medical School's chair of microbiology and immunology for his work on public policy issues and his advocacy of research funding on behalf of fellow immunologists and other scientists. (Source: News at Dartmouth Medical School)

[News & Analysis] Nuclear Physics: DOE Funding Crunch Threatens Future of Only U.S. Collider Still Running

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:42:31 +0100

A $500 million upgrade planned for early next decade would enable the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider to answer a key puzzle about the proton itself—if RHIC doesn't fall victim to budget cuts.Author: Adrian Cho (Source: Science: Current Issue)

Study indicates type 2 diabetes patients could receive improved care with EMR

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:39:05 +0100

Source: LawrenceG, Microwize Technology Content: “Under the HITECH Act, individual physicians and small medical facility managers who can illustrate “meaningful use” through their deployment of electronic medical records software are eligible for thousands of dollars in federal funding. While this is one reason EMR adoption will likely continue to grow through 2015 – the year when [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

The funding must be available to help achieve public health outcomes

HSJ — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0100

The recently announced Public Health Outcomes Framework sets an effective set of measurements for performance - but if the resources aren’t there to achieve them, many services will step back from this opportunity for a step change in mental healthcare. (Source: HSJ)

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Branding academic publishers 'enemies of science' is offensive and wrong

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:26:40 +0100

Publishers have made more scientific research available to more readers at a lower unit cost than ever beforeWriting in these pages last week, Dr Mike Taylor used strong language to support his assertion that academic publishers have "drifted out of alignment" with science – language that demands a response.I won't comment on the multiple references to one significant publisher – which is just one of 2,000 active scholarly publishers, most of them learned societies – but it is unfair and wrong to characterise a progressive industry in these terms. These publishers are not anti-science, anti-publication, pouring scorn on new entrants to the industry, exploiting people with preventable diseases (are you serious?) or doing almost nothing to earn their "obscene profits".They are offended...

Amazon rainforest mapped in unprecedented detail

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:17:58 +0100

Scientists record Amazon's structure and biodiversity by bouncing laser beams off forest 400,000 times per secondFive thousand metres above the most biodiverse corner of the Amazon, tropical ecologist Greg Asner and his team see a kaleidoscope of colours among a mass of green.Huddled in a twin-engine Dornier 228 aeroplane called the Carnegie Airborne Observatory, the scientists are capturing multicoloured images of the Peruvian rainforest canopy that verge on the psychedelic.Inside the plane, a machine known as a Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) bounces a laser beam off the forest canopy 400,000 times per second – the result is a three-dimensional map of the forest showing unprecedented detail.In addition, a spectrometre, kept at a temperature of -131C (-204F), measures the biodiversi...

Regarding “Industry working with physicians through professional medical associations”

Journal of Vascular Surgery — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:25:16 +0100

We read with interest the excellent supplement on industry relations. Dalsing appropriately raises concerns about how professional medical associations, such as the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), balance the benefits and risks of working with industry to provide member benefits. He suggests that 30% to 50% or more of most professional medical associations' operating budgets are supported by industry funding. (Source: Journal of Vascular Surgery)

Ground-breaking service becomes the largest online support network for people with HIV in its first year

Terrence Higgins Trust — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:00:47 +0100

A year today, Friday 27 January, after its launch, almost 3,000 people with HIV in the UK are part of myHIV, a groundbreaking online support system. This makes it the largest community of people with HIV in the UK, with people helping each other to manage their health and wellbeing. To celebrate the success of these services and encourage even more people to join up, Terrence Higgins Trust is holding a monthly prize draw for members, with an iPad as the opening draw’s prize.MyHIV is part of Life Plus, a suite of integrated online, face-to-face and telephone support services for people living with HIV and supports individuals’ everyday, non-clinical needs. Created by HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and people living with HIV, myHIV i...

Wireless Analytics, LLC Managing Director Erik Eames Joins Telecom...

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:33:34 +0100

Eames to support TEMIA's work in TEM valuations, mergers, acquisitions, funding and IPO readiness, as well as public relations and membership.(PRWeb January 26, 2012)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/mobility-management/TEMIA-committees/prweb9139521.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

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How to write a good research grant proposal

Paediatrics and Child Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:16:38 +0100

This article aims to provide a step-by-step overview of the process of applying for research funding and will be most relevant to either a new academic joining a group or a young clinician wanting to establish their own research. We explain the types of funding available and the process by which one would choose the right funding body to apply to. We highlight the various people who should be involved in developing the research proposal and making a funding application, as well as the sources of support available to help the new researcher take their ideas forward. A checklist is also provided to reiterate the key points. (Source: Paediatrics and Child Health)

Research in resource-limited settings

Paediatrics and Child Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:16:38 +0100

Abstract: After long periods of vast child health disparities between industrialized countries and Resource-limited Settings (RLS) research has started to address and reduce the gap. It is well established worldwide, has yielded mutually rewarding collaborations and has a funding and career structure unthinkable even 25 years ago. Despite this progress, work remains to ensure academic and funding equity and ethical parity.This paper outlines the background to and history of research in RLS, illustrates the current situation and points to potential future developments. (Source: Paediatrics and Child Health)

Twenty-five years of research and new beginnings

Applied Nursing Research : ANR — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:54:20 +0100

This volume marks the 25th anniversary of Applied Nursing Research (ANR). In these past two and a half decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the nursing knowledge developed and disseminated both in the United States and globally. Funding for nurse scientists also has increased, and these scientists are recognized as full members of the academic community. As part of this volume, in tribute to the scholarship of the past and the inherent lessons for future researchers, we will profile some of the most significant studies published in ANR. (Source: Applied Nursing Research : ANR)

Copyright Assignment, Authorship Responsibility, NIH Funding, Financial Disclosure, Institutional Review Board/Animal Care Committee Approval, and Sponsorship

Gastroenterology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:26:23 +0100

Copyright Assignment. In consideration of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute (the “AGA Institute”) taking action to review and credit the below-identified submission (the “Manuscript”), and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned authors and/or creators (the “Authors”), jointly and severally, hereby transfer, convey, and assign to the AGA Institute, free and clear of any liens, licenses or encumbrances, the entire right, title, and interest in and to the Manuscript throughout the world, including without limitation in and to any and all copyrights for the Manuscript (including but not limited to rights to copy, publish, excerpt, collect royalties and make derivative works) in print,...

Letters: Transparency needed on donors to climate sceptic lobby

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:06 +0100

Science is by its nature sceptical: scientists interrogate information and only on repeated investigation does data become science. The science of climate change has been established through numerous high-profile studies (IPCC, NOAA, Nasa) and was even verified by the sceptic-led Best report. In 2009 one of the world's leading medical journals, the Lancet, declared climate change "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century". Denying the links between greenhouse gas emissions and man-made climate change is akin to denying the links between HIV/Aids and unprotected sex, smoking and lung cancer, or alcohol consumption and liver disease. In each of these cases, well-funded deniers have had to be exposed and confronted before appropriate health-promoting legislation was put in place.T...

Why Newt Gingrich's moon base will remain an impossible dream

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:19:15 +0100

This article was amended on 26th January. It originally stated that spending on NASA rose to 3.45% of America's GDP in the 1960s. This has been change to 3.45% of federal spending.The moonNasaSpaceNewt GingrichRepublican presidential nomination 2012RepublicansUS elections 2012US politicsFloridaAlok Jhaguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)

Medicare cuts, ACOs to cause slowdown in diagnostic ECG device market

Healthcare IT News — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:04:34 +0100

A new report from Millennium Research Group shows that declining demand in private practices for diagnostic electrocardiography (ECG) devices will contribute to slow growth in the U.S. market – despite a growing number of older patients who require the devices. The study finds that reasons for declining private practice demand range from Medicare funding cuts to the impact of accountable care organizations. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Detainees tortured and denied medical care

MSF News — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:59:00 +0100

Detainees in the Libyan city of Misrata are being tortured and denied urgent medical care, leading Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to suspend its operations in detention centres in Misrata, MSF said today. MSF teams began working in Misrata’s detention centres in August, 2011, to treat war-wounded detainees. Since then, MSF doctors were increasingly confronted with patients who suffered injuries caused by torture during interrogation sessions. The interrogations were held outside the detention centres. In total, MSF treated 115 people who had torture-related wounds and reported all the cases to the relevant authorities in Misrata. Since January, several of the patients returned to interrogation centres have even been tortured again. Libya © Benoît Finck/MSF MSF staff during physio...

Libya: Detainees Tortured and Denied Medical Care

MSF News — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:42:00 +0100

Libya 2011 © MSF An MSF physiotherapist works in one of Misrata's detention centers, where MSF is suspending operations. TRIPOLI/BRUSSELS/NEW YORK, JANUARY 26, 2012 – Detainees in the Libyan city of Misrata are being tortured and denied urgent medical care, leading the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to suspend its operations in detention centers in Misrata, MSF announced today. MSF teams began working in Misrata’s detention centers in August, 2011, to treat war-wounded detainees. Since then, MSF doctors had been increasingly confronted with patients who suffered injuries caused by torture during interrogation sessions. The interrogations were held outside the detent...

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Prevention of Sudden Death for Patients With Cardiomyopathies: Another Step Forward⁎

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:57:11 +0100

It has now been >30 years since the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was introduced to the cardiovascular community for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (). Perhaps it is no longer common knowledge that the defibrillator was conceived and initially developed >40 years ago by Drs. Michel Mirowski and Morton Mower, not in an eminent medical institution with the robust support of industry and the National Institutes of Health, but rather in the basement of a small, private hospital (Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland), initially with no formal funding. This entirely novel concept was initially met with substantial skepticism and even antagonism (), but eventually moved forward, driven by the vision of Mirowski and Mower, until it became the acknowledged treatment to prevent...

Lancet Comment: How the Health and Social Care Bill 2011 would end entitlement to comprehensive health care in England

NeLM - News — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: Lancet Area: News According to a Comment article in the Lancet, a legal analysis shows that the Health and Social Care Bill would abolish the model of tax-financed, universal health care that is the NHS, and pave the way for the introduction of a US-style health system by eroding entitlement to equality of health-care provision. In addition, it will sever the duty of the Secretary of State for Health to secure comprehensive health care throughout England and introduce competitive markets and structures consistent with greater inequality of provision, mixed funding, and widespread provision by private health corporations. The authors make the following recommendations to protect the NHS: . The Secretary of State must have the duty to secure provision of c...

Congress told to replace sequestration cuts with alternative to achieve responsible policies

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(American College of Physicians) Congress today was told to replace the $1.2 trillion in across-the-board sequestration-mandated budget cuts. The request was made by Virginia L. Hood, MBBS, MPH, FACP, president of the American College of Physicians, at today's annual State of the Nation's Health Care briefing. She declared that what is needed is an alternative framework to achieve fiscally and socially responsible policies to gain health care savings while preserving funding for critical programs. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Global Fund chief quits after funding cuts

Reuters: Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:22:38 +0100

GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the Global Fund, the largest backer of the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, will step down in March after a misuse of funds led it to cut back on new grants to battle the diseases. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Funding for higher education in England for 2012-13: HEFCE grant letter from BIS

MEDEV News — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:50:00 +0100

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Minister for Universities and Science have today confirmed funding allocations to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for 2012-13 and the Government’s priorities for the Council for the coming year. The grant letter (note 1) confirms government funding and priorities for HEFCE and for higher education in a year when the new financial arrangements for higher education in England will be implemented. From 2012-13, universities and colleges will increasingly obtain their income for learning and teaching from publicly funded tuition fee loans. HEFCE's funding settlement reflects these new circumstances. The letter asks HEFCE to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements in the interests...

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Young breast cancer survivors face serious quality-of-life challenges

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:22:04 +0100

Quality of life in younger patients treated for breast cancer is seriously compromised, and these women face more physical and mental health issues than women their age who haven't had cancer and women over 50 who have, according to a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study, published Jan. 20 in the peer-reviewed Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that younger breast cancer survivors suffer from a slew of problems, including severe psychological distress, infertility, premature menopause, a decrease in physical activity and weight gain. The study points to the need for oncologists to let these younger patients know from the beginning of their therapy what may happen to them after it's finished, said the study's lead author, D...

DRC: Majority of People Living with HIV Denied Treatment

MSF News — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0100

DRC 2011 © Robin Meldrum Michel Kongawi, head lab tech, prepares a CD4 test in the laboratory at Lubutu hospital, Maniema Province. KINSHASA, JANUARY 25, 2012 – The vast majority of people living with the AIDS virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are deprived of lifesaving treatment, due to a withdrawal of international donor support and the lack of national prioritization of the crisis, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today. The number of HIV-positive people in DRC is currently estimated at more than one million, 350,000 of whom could benefit from antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. However, only 44,000 people are currently receiving treatment, translating into a 1...

Cannabinoids and Atherosclerotic Coronary Heart Disease

Clinical Cardiology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMarijuana is the most abused recreational drug in the United States. Cannabinoids, the active ingredients of marijuana, affect multiple organ systems in the human body. The pharmacologic effects of marijuana, based on stimulation of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, which are widely distributed in the cardiovascular system, have been well described. Activation of these receptors modulates the function of various cellular elements of the vessel wall, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Clinically, there are reports linking marijuana smoking to the precipitation of angina and acute coronary syndromes. Recently, large published clinical trials with CB1 antagonist rimonabant did not show any significant benefit of this agent in preventing progression of atherosc...

California hospitals sue to stop funding cuts

Modern Medicine — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The California Hospital Association (CHA) is suing state and federal officials to block a 10% cut in government reimbursements to healthcare providers who treat low-income patients under the state's Medi-Cal program. The CHA claims the cuts will force many hospitals to close their skilled nursing facilities. (Source: Modern Medicine)