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EC Framework Research Programme
EC Framework Research
Not quite summit
Programme
a
science
Belgian
Socialist
MEP
Prof Claude
Desama, commented that it
was not too
arly to begin looking ahead to the Community’s next five-year research support programme which will begin in 1998. Perhaps unimpressed by the EC commitment to research, given that the Community budget amounts to less than the outlay on sugar subsidies, the scientists
EC governments are unanimously pushing The final ratification of the Maastricht for more Community funds to go to meditreaty, by Germany, became possible when cal research. They believe money should be a qualified endorsement was granted by the diverted from information technology and German federal constitutional court on Oct v much of their time discussing unenergy research to finance medical work 12, clearing the way for the treaty to come spent press coverage, the quality of sympathetic under the EC’s fourth Framework into effect on Nov 1. For the European the declining interest science teaching, Research Programme (1994-98). Under the Parliament, the treaty will introduce new in science studies, and shown by youngsters EC Commission’s for of members of proposals co-decision, which powers Framework Programme budget allothe assembly plan to exploit in securing a the time-honoured ritual pronouncements on the social sciences. Chemistry Nobel cations, the life sciences heading-which : greater say on research issues and spending. covers biotechnology, medical research, To underline this commitment, the laureate Sir John Kendrew commented: "Young people have turned against and agriculture-food applications of life assembly’s Committee on Energy, ReIf you ask them why, some say science. sciences-would get 10.1% of the total 13-1 search, and Technology organised a it is boring but more common is the because billion ecus. The governments claim that European science summit in Brussels on about the nasty things which science feeling this amount is not enough and life-sciences Oct 14 and 15. : has to the world: nuclear weapons, brought should get at least 11-1%, many want even Scientific it may have been but in no way more. Member states say that the 30% for did this gathering conform to the usual pollution, the ozone hole, and genetic telecommunications is far too much. criterion of a summit-that is, a gathering engineering". There were even suggestions France, Germany, and the UK are also of principals to take important decisions on that scientists are perhaps the very last unhappy about the overall cost of the the basis of consensus hammered out by people who should be brought together to discuss science, let alone the ethics of programme, although the Commission underlings. Instead, the conference took claims it would not mean an increase on the form of rambling seminar sessions on science. existing funding in real terms since the subjects such as "science, industry and the fourth programme contains headings that quality of life" and "science, culture, ethics previously came out of other EC budgets. : and society". Energy committee chairman,Arthur Rogers There is also controversy over the EC’s : nine Joint Research Centres, which the which he reported that "in some instances, UK, Denmark, and the Netherlands in . HUGO’s uncertain future? [it was] ahead of schedule". New technoparticular claim should compete for EC such as new types of genetic marklogies, research contracts alongside private instiDr Francis of director the human Collins, ers, improved systems for cloning, and tutions and be more market oriented. claims that lack automated DNA genome project (HUGO), sequencing, have allowed claim that the centres should not be funded under the framework programme since that of funding may prevent sequencing of the the programme to become even more ambiis the equivalent of giving contracts without human genome by the target date of 2005. tious, he commented. However, Collins the centres having to bid. Italy, which He made his comments at last week’s warned that these plans depended on houses many of the centres at its Ispra site, : annual meeting of the American Society of annual funding of at least$200 million. For backed by Portugal and the Commission, Human Genetics in New Orleans after a 1994, he estimated that the combined rerejects this view and emphasises that the decision by Congress to allocate US$108 : sources of NIH and the Department of million to university research (Collins had Energy would need to produce a budget of centres are Community institutions and should be managed as such. : sought$132 million) and$21 million for a nearly$250 million. If the latest decision by The Commission wants medical research genetics research centre at the National Congress is confirmed, it will be a bitter funding priorities to be AIDS, tuberculosis Institutes of Health. However, a blow for Collins, who took up his position spokesperson for the National Centre for as director only in April. and other infectious diseases, cancer, pharmaceuticals, and neuroscience and brain Human Genetic Research noted that the research. The Commission proposes that 1994 budget for the project had not yet been Richard Horton finalised. : 1 Collins F, Galas D. A new five-year plan for the EC help should link researchers inCollins recently set out a new five-year the US human genome project. Science 1993; volved in prevention and treatment of: for the US human genome project in 262: 43-46. plan1 accidents and occupational workplace of with a the illnesses disease, epidemiology for HUGO major socioeconomic impact, human genome analysis, health services research,: Ot Genetic map: to complete a 2-5 centimorgan map by 1995. biomedical technology, and engineering < Physical map: to complete a sequence-tagged site map of the human genome at a and biomedical ethics. : resolution of 100 kilobases. EC research ministers will now meet to: DNA 8 sequencing: to achieve a sequencing rate of 50 megabases per year. discuss the proposals in December and the: . Gene identification: to improve methods for locating genes on physical maps or : Commission that the
They
Updated goals
hopes programme : finally approved before the June, : 1994, European Parliament elections. However, the deep rift over Joint Research Centre funding looks set to dash this hope.: After all, the Commission only released the: : framework programme proposals in July, and it took 18 months of hard negotiation to : will be
approve the third programme.
: Sara Lewis
1044
sequenced DNA. . Technology development: to take place in all areas, especially sequencing. . Model organisms: expanding sequence data for the genomes of mice, Escherichia coli, Drosophila, and Caenorhabdities elegans. < Informatics: to expand, distribute, and improve access to all genome databases. . Ethical issues: to refine and disseminate policy options on genome research and genetic testing; improve public education ; and foster greater acceptance of human genetic variation. . Technology transfer: to take place in all areas of genome research. . Outreach: to encourage the sharing of data within six months of their acquisition.
Not quite summit
Programme
a
science
Belgian
Socialist
MEP
Prof Claude
Desama, commented that it
was not too
arly to begin looking ahead to the Community’s next five-year research support programme which will begin in 1998. Perhaps unimpressed by the EC commitment to research, given that the Community budget amounts to less than the outlay on sugar subsidies, the scientists
EC governments are unanimously pushing The final ratification of the Maastricht for more Community funds to go to meditreaty, by Germany, became possible when cal research. They believe money should be a qualified endorsement was granted by the diverted from information technology and German federal constitutional court on Oct v much of their time discussing unenergy research to finance medical work 12, clearing the way for the treaty to come spent press coverage, the quality of sympathetic under the EC’s fourth Framework into effect on Nov 1. For the European the declining interest science teaching, Research Programme (1994-98). Under the Parliament, the treaty will introduce new in science studies, and shown by youngsters EC Commission’s for of members of proposals co-decision, which powers Framework Programme budget allothe assembly plan to exploit in securing a the time-honoured ritual pronouncements on the social sciences. Chemistry Nobel cations, the life sciences heading-which : greater say on research issues and spending. covers biotechnology, medical research, To underline this commitment, the laureate Sir John Kendrew commented: "Young people have turned against and agriculture-food applications of life assembly’s Committee on Energy, ReIf you ask them why, some say science. sciences-would get 10.1% of the total 13-1 search, and Technology organised a it is boring but more common is the because billion ecus. The governments claim that European science summit in Brussels on about the nasty things which science feeling this amount is not enough and life-sciences Oct 14 and 15. : has to the world: nuclear weapons, brought should get at least 11-1%, many want even Scientific it may have been but in no way more. Member states say that the 30% for did this gathering conform to the usual pollution, the ozone hole, and genetic telecommunications is far too much. criterion of a summit-that is, a gathering engineering". There were even suggestions France, Germany, and the UK are also of principals to take important decisions on that scientists are perhaps the very last unhappy about the overall cost of the the basis of consensus hammered out by people who should be brought together to discuss science, let alone the ethics of programme, although the Commission underlings. Instead, the conference took claims it would not mean an increase on the form of rambling seminar sessions on science. existing funding in real terms since the subjects such as "science, industry and the fourth programme contains headings that quality of life" and "science, culture, ethics previously came out of other EC budgets. : and society". Energy committee chairman,Arthur Rogers There is also controversy over the EC’s : nine Joint Research Centres, which the which he reported that "in some instances, UK, Denmark, and the Netherlands in . HUGO’s uncertain future? [it was] ahead of schedule". New technoparticular claim should compete for EC such as new types of genetic marklogies, research contracts alongside private instiDr Francis of director the human Collins, ers, improved systems for cloning, and tutions and be more market oriented. claims that lack automated DNA genome project (HUGO), sequencing, have allowed claim that the centres should not be funded under the framework programme since that of funding may prevent sequencing of the the programme to become even more ambiis the equivalent of giving contracts without human genome by the target date of 2005. tious, he commented. However, Collins the centres having to bid. Italy, which He made his comments at last week’s warned that these plans depended on houses many of the centres at its Ispra site, : annual meeting of the American Society of annual funding of at least$200 million. For backed by Portugal and the Commission, Human Genetics in New Orleans after a 1994, he estimated that the combined rerejects this view and emphasises that the decision by Congress to allocate US$108 : sources of NIH and the Department of million to university research (Collins had Energy would need to produce a budget of centres are Community institutions and should be managed as such. : sought$132 million) and$21 million for a nearly$250 million. If the latest decision by The Commission wants medical research genetics research centre at the National Congress is confirmed, it will be a bitter funding priorities to be AIDS, tuberculosis Institutes of Health. However, a blow for Collins, who took up his position spokesperson for the National Centre for as director only in April. and other infectious diseases, cancer, pharmaceuticals, and neuroscience and brain Human Genetic Research noted that the research. The Commission proposes that 1994 budget for the project had not yet been Richard Horton finalised. : 1 Collins F, Galas D. A new five-year plan for the EC help should link researchers inCollins recently set out a new five-year the US human genome project. Science 1993; volved in prevention and treatment of: for the US human genome project in 262: 43-46. plan1 accidents and occupational workplace of with a the illnesses disease, epidemiology for HUGO major socioeconomic impact, human genome analysis, health services research,: Ot Genetic map: to complete a 2-5 centimorgan map by 1995. biomedical technology, and engineering < Physical map: to complete a sequence-tagged site map of the human genome at a and biomedical ethics. : resolution of 100 kilobases. EC research ministers will now meet to: DNA 8 sequencing: to achieve a sequencing rate of 50 megabases per year. discuss the proposals in December and the: . Gene identification: to improve methods for locating genes on physical maps or : Commission that the
They
Updated goals
hopes programme : finally approved before the June, : 1994, European Parliament elections. However, the deep rift over Joint Research Centre funding looks set to dash this hope.: After all, the Commission only released the: : framework programme proposals in July, and it took 18 months of hard negotiation to : will be
approve the third programme.
: Sara Lewis
1044
sequenced DNA. . Technology development: to take place in all areas, especially sequencing. . Model organisms: expanding sequence data for the genomes of mice, Escherichia coli, Drosophila, and Caenorhabdities elegans. < Informatics: to expand, distribute, and improve access to all genome databases. . Ethical issues: to refine and disseminate policy options on genome research and genetic testing; improve public education ; and foster greater acceptance of human genetic variation. . Technology transfer: to take place in all areas of genome research. . Outreach: to encourage the sharing of data within six months of their acquisition.