Life Sciences in 2009
The outgoing year 2009 was, perhaps, like no other, rich in various kinds of troubles, both in the scientific community and in industry. One of the main reasons for this, apparently, was the difficult financial situation caused by the economic crisis, both in the United States and around the world. However, despite all the problems, life in the field of natural sciences in 2009 was full of events. Here we present a monthly calendar of the most important events that have influenced the state of the life sciences industry (life science).
January
On January 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the first-ever clinical trials of a therapy method based on the introduction of human embryonic stem cells. However, already in August, the trials were suspended due to the detection of cysts in animals on which preliminary testing of therapy was carried out. The company hopes to resume testing in 2010.
February
On February 13, the U.S. Congress approved a $789 billion economic recovery budget, including $10.4 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $3 billion for the National Science Foundation. This led to a sharp increase in the activity of researchers who submitted 20,000 applications for 200 grants allocated by the National Institutes of Health.
MarchOn March 9, US President Barack Obama lifts restrictions imposed by the previous administration on funding research using embryonic stem cells.
Obama has ordered the National Institutes of Health to develop a new set of regulations to determine which embryonic stem cell lines have been obtained according to ethical requirements and can be approved for use. A draft version of the new rules was published in April, and the final version in July. In early December, the National Institutes of Health published a list of the first cell lines that have received official approval for use for research purposes.
April
The H1N1 influenza virus, dubbed "swine flu", has begun to spread in the United States and around the world. On April 25, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan declared swine flu "an issue of extreme importance for public health around the world." (However, as it turned out, the panic about this strain turned out to be extremely exaggerated.)
May
Japanese researchers have for the first time created transgenic primates capable of transmitting transgenic DNA to their descendants.
JuneThe National Organization of Professors of the USA has launched an official investigation into the mass dismissal of professors who had indefinite contracts to work in the University of Texas System and its Medical Branch in Galveston.
The university management explained the need for layoffs by financial difficulties associated with the consequences of Hurricane Ike, but members of the board of professors protested against this decision.
The authorities of the state of New York have made a not widely publicized announcement that women can receive financial rewards for eggs donated by them for research purposes. To date, New York remains the only state that adheres to such a policy.
JulyA series of rumors ended with the fact that the candidacy of geneticist Francis Collins, who until last year headed the US National Institute for the Study of the Human Genome, was proposed by President Obama on July 8 for the post of head of the National Institutes of Health instead of Raynard Kington, who had been acting head of the organization since last year.
The Senate confirmed Collins' candidacy on August 7.
AugustThe chief specialist of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the approval of medicines has been charged for abuse of office, and the head of the department of the same department for working with medical devices resigns due to statements that the decisions he makes give away his close connection with the industry.
September
On September 24, researchers announce that, according to the results of clinical trials involving 16,000 Thai volunteers, an experimental HIV vaccine provides moderate protection against infection. The preliminary results, published by them at a press conference held a month before the publication, caused experts to suspect that the effect of vaccination is only a statistical anomaly. The published data confirmed the positive effect, but the researchers announced that the effectiveness of the vaccine is insufficient for its use as an independent drug, but it can be taken as a basis for future developments.
OctoberOn October 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces the creation of a new federally funded institution for agricultural research – the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The Nobel Prizes in Physiology and Medicine (October 5) and Chemistry (October 7) are awarded to researchers studying telomeres and ribosomes, respectively. There were three women among this year's laureates.
November
The Icelandic company deCODE, which has published at least 30 first-class papers on genetics in the last two years alone, declares itself bankrupt on November 17, after protracted financial problems. deCODE Chief Executive Officer Kari Stefansson, one of the founders of the company established in 1996, said that almost all of the company's activities will continue unchanged.
The promising results of two clinical trials of gene therapy, following a series of recent successes, give hope that this industry is gradually beginning to overcome its problems.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of The Scientist: 2009 in review.
16.12.2009