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UK to study congenital limb-reduction defects
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Not everything was bad news in shown in preliminary fashion, to be the area of HIV resistance. As pointable to at least delay the onset of ed out by D Richman (San Diego), it resistance. Whether this delay will be is possible that mutations associated associated with long-term clinical with the development of resistance ’. benefit remains the focus of ongoing : may eventually lead to viral strains clinical trials. A greater understanding of the with decreased replicative or pathogenic ability. Also, the development structure/function relationships of the of resistance to one agent may revirally encoded enzymes and proteins establish or increase sensitivity to has led to some optimism about the another, as has been postulated for potential contribution that rational lamivudine and zidovudine. Despite drug design may have to offer. The this, as outlined by R D’Aquila ’. hope is that the success rate of ratio(Boston), there is general consensus nally designed drugs will exceed that that the development of resistance (in ’. of those selected by trial and error. the context of existing therapies) will Such efforts are being focused on the lead to further progression of HIV: third replicative enzyme of HIV, intedisease. According to D’Aquila, early grase. It would be reasonable to treatment and alternating and combiexpect that this approach will lead to nation therapy regimens have all candidate integrase inhibitors enter-
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near future. In the area of HIV-related illnesses, D Moore (New York), elegantly described the evidence in support of a viral aetiology for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Moore’s team was able to characterise a herpes virus that seems to be closely associated with the development of KS. They have tentatively named the agent Kaposi’s sarcomaassociated herpes virus, or KSHV. Quite clearly, this finding opens a whole new avenue for the development and testing of therapeutic alternatives for this AIDS-related
ing clinical testing in the
been
cancer.
Julio S G Montaner, Michael O’Shaughnessy
and practicality. Although ROPA is a scheme for strategic science, the governresearch ment points out that the award is response mode. Another scheme for improving A report’ on congenital limb-reduction Medicine is one of the three interaction with industry, already piloted defects has highlighted three areas for picked to join chemistry as a science that by all six research councils, is that whereresearch and the need for a review of underpins the objectives in the UK govby studentships are placed in the hands of existing data. It advises against a non-speernment’s science policy and that will the industrialists. : receive enhanced support for curiositycific case-control study. Strategic areas that have been identified The Advisory Group on Congenital driven research within the 1995/96 scifor special support (to both the MRC and Limb Reduction Defects was set up by the ence budget of 1281-7 million. But the and Biotechnology Biological UK Department of Health after reports of before Research Sciences anybody gets too excited, that eleCouncil) include possible clusters of such malformations, ment of support for medicine amounts to genome research and immunology CC9-6 especially around the coast. This led to 1million (compared with )C7’6 million . million), bioprocessing innovation ([,11 concern that there might be an environfor chemistry). Patient and communitymillion), and wealth-creating products mental cause (Lancet 1994; 343: based research is to qualify for this supfrom plants ([1million). C2-5 million of 1033-35). The advisory group found no port. The 1995/96 allocation, which is the special allocation for immunology is to coastal predominance. : z41 million higher than that for 1994/95, help the MRC and the BBSRC in their The report calls for a case-control and a is the first since the restructuring of the contributions to the recently launched cohort study of chorionic villus sampling, research council system in April last year. Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine which has been associated with this The science and engineering policy, set Research, which is also part-funded by of malformation (Lancet 1994; 343: out in the white-paper, Realising Our : Glaxo and the Department of Health and 1069). The report also calls for research Potential, is aimed at wealth creation and is to be sited alongside the BBSAC’s Instiinto prevention of limb-reduction defects enhancement of the quality of life. : tute for Animal Health in Berkshire. k33 by folic acid supplementation, which is ;: total million of the (5%) budget million of the jC67 million is to go into a jC67 recommended during pregnancy for the has been earmarked for priority initiatives pilot programme to fund expensive equipprevention of neural tube defects. ment through MRC, the BBSRC, and the designed to advance the policy. The initiaWhen releasing the report, Baroness and tives fall into three main areas-increasing Engineering Physical Sciences Cumberledge, Parliamentary Secretary for interaction with industry, enhancing basic Research Council. With the councils Health, committed her department to actand strategic science, and improving peoputting up a matching sum, and offering ing on the advisory group’s recommendaple-related programmes. For the Medical 50% funding of equipment to universities tions. Negotiations have begun with a Research Council, which will get 2778 : that are able to draw in industrial partners team to review human and animal million (compared with z3 million in to fund the other 50%, the multiplier research into limb-reduction defects. : 1994/95), 14 million will go towards the effect here is intended to provide higherThe group decided that a case-control education institutes with equipment worth priority initiatives. Some of the approach study without a strong hypotheallocations have been designed to produce 12 million. sis would not help to ascertain causes of a "multiplier" effect in that they have to Among the people-related programmes limb-reduction defects because classificabe matched or supplemented by other that are to receive priority funding is a tion of cases can be crude, ascertainment sources. : new fellowship scheme (Dorothy Hodgkin might be poor, the selection of controls : One initiative for improving interaction fellowships) aimed specifically at young would be difficult, and the range of poswith industry is the year-old ROPA (Realscientists and to be launched on a pilot sible causes is too wide. basis by the Royal Society. A report (Risising Our Potential Awards) scheme piloted with three of the research councils and ing Tide) had identified the period immenow to be extended to all six (with an diately after the completion of the PhD as David McNamee allocation of C21 -million). To qualify for the time when women are most likely to an award a researcher has to be funded by drop out of careers in science. 1 Available from T J Elliott, Room 401, industry for strategic research and the 80 London Road, Skipton House, London SE1 6LW, UK. proposal must meet criteria for originality Vivien Choo
UK to study congenital limb-reduction defects
Money for
UK medical
disciplines
type
j
special
378
., 5-.J y
,’i .i ", , . , > ,Yvx-".;";. , ;’ ,; ,;"°’‘ rsv3w,<. ;;;,
,
v
.q ; :.
v.Ax.
;, z r,%’-y’
r
. ’.:’r.t" per ‘r..H’%
:,s
Z?:’
‘
, .n,
Not everything was bad news in shown in preliminary fashion, to be the area of HIV resistance. As pointable to at least delay the onset of ed out by D Richman (San Diego), it resistance. Whether this delay will be is possible that mutations associated associated with long-term clinical with the development of resistance ’. benefit remains the focus of ongoing : may eventually lead to viral strains clinical trials. A greater understanding of the with decreased replicative or pathogenic ability. Also, the development structure/function relationships of the of resistance to one agent may revirally encoded enzymes and proteins establish or increase sensitivity to has led to some optimism about the another, as has been postulated for potential contribution that rational lamivudine and zidovudine. Despite drug design may have to offer. The this, as outlined by R D’Aquila ’. hope is that the success rate of ratio(Boston), there is general consensus nally designed drugs will exceed that that the development of resistance (in ’. of those selected by trial and error. the context of existing therapies) will Such efforts are being focused on the lead to further progression of HIV: third replicative enzyme of HIV, intedisease. According to D’Aquila, early grase. It would be reasonable to treatment and alternating and combiexpect that this approach will lead to nation therapy regimens have all candidate integrase inhibitors enter-
:u
.."
..
,
.s-,.,<,’r°.,.
"
z.
near future. In the area of HIV-related illnesses, D Moore (New York), elegantly described the evidence in support of a viral aetiology for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Moore’s team was able to characterise a herpes virus that seems to be closely associated with the development of KS. They have tentatively named the agent Kaposi’s sarcomaassociated herpes virus, or KSHV. Quite clearly, this finding opens a whole new avenue for the development and testing of therapeutic alternatives for this AIDS-related
ing clinical testing in the
been
cancer.
Julio S G Montaner, Michael O’Shaughnessy
and practicality. Although ROPA is a scheme for strategic science, the governresearch ment points out that the award is response mode. Another scheme for improving A report’ on congenital limb-reduction Medicine is one of the three interaction with industry, already piloted defects has highlighted three areas for picked to join chemistry as a science that by all six research councils, is that whereresearch and the need for a review of underpins the objectives in the UK govby studentships are placed in the hands of existing data. It advises against a non-speernment’s science policy and that will the industrialists. : receive enhanced support for curiositycific case-control study. Strategic areas that have been identified The Advisory Group on Congenital driven research within the 1995/96 scifor special support (to both the MRC and Limb Reduction Defects was set up by the ence budget of 1281-7 million. But the and Biotechnology Biological UK Department of Health after reports of before Research Sciences anybody gets too excited, that eleCouncil) include possible clusters of such malformations, ment of support for medicine amounts to genome research and immunology CC9-6 especially around the coast. This led to 1million (compared with )C7’6 million . million), bioprocessing innovation ([,11 concern that there might be an environfor chemistry). Patient and communitymillion), and wealth-creating products mental cause (Lancet 1994; 343: based research is to qualify for this supfrom plants ([1million). C2-5 million of 1033-35). The advisory group found no port. The 1995/96 allocation, which is the special allocation for immunology is to coastal predominance. : z41 million higher than that for 1994/95, help the MRC and the BBSRC in their The report calls for a case-control and a is the first since the restructuring of the contributions to the recently launched cohort study of chorionic villus sampling, research council system in April last year. Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine which has been associated with this The science and engineering policy, set Research, which is also part-funded by of malformation (Lancet 1994; 343: out in the white-paper, Realising Our : Glaxo and the Department of Health and 1069). The report also calls for research Potential, is aimed at wealth creation and is to be sited alongside the BBSAC’s Instiinto prevention of limb-reduction defects enhancement of the quality of life. : tute for Animal Health in Berkshire. k33 by folic acid supplementation, which is ;: total million of the (5%) budget million of the jC67 million is to go into a jC67 recommended during pregnancy for the has been earmarked for priority initiatives pilot programme to fund expensive equipprevention of neural tube defects. ment through MRC, the BBSRC, and the designed to advance the policy. The initiaWhen releasing the report, Baroness and tives fall into three main areas-increasing Engineering Physical Sciences Cumberledge, Parliamentary Secretary for interaction with industry, enhancing basic Research Council. With the councils Health, committed her department to actand strategic science, and improving peoputting up a matching sum, and offering ing on the advisory group’s recommendaple-related programmes. For the Medical 50% funding of equipment to universities tions. Negotiations have begun with a Research Council, which will get 2778 : that are able to draw in industrial partners team to review human and animal million (compared with z3 million in to fund the other 50%, the multiplier research into limb-reduction defects. : 1994/95), 14 million will go towards the effect here is intended to provide higherThe group decided that a case-control education institutes with equipment worth priority initiatives. Some of the approach study without a strong hypotheallocations have been designed to produce 12 million. sis would not help to ascertain causes of a "multiplier" effect in that they have to Among the people-related programmes limb-reduction defects because classificabe matched or supplemented by other that are to receive priority funding is a tion of cases can be crude, ascertainment sources. : new fellowship scheme (Dorothy Hodgkin might be poor, the selection of controls : One initiative for improving interaction fellowships) aimed specifically at young would be difficult, and the range of poswith industry is the year-old ROPA (Realscientists and to be launched on a pilot sible causes is too wide. basis by the Royal Society. A report (Risising Our Potential Awards) scheme piloted with three of the research councils and ing Tide) had identified the period immenow to be extended to all six (with an diately after the completion of the PhD as David McNamee allocation of C21 -million). To qualify for the time when women are most likely to an award a researcher has to be funded by drop out of careers in science. 1 Available from T J Elliott, Room 401, industry for strategic research and the 80 London Road, Skipton House, London SE1 6LW, UK. proposal must meet criteria for originality Vivien Choo
UK to study congenital limb-reduction defects
Money for
UK medical
disciplines
type
j
special
378