British research council jumps at gene therapy

Article Abstract:

The British Medical Research Council (MRC) will distribute government aid to research on genetic study of human health. The council is promoting a gene therapy trial in Britain despite the failure of the first trial. Peter Rigby, head of the genes and cellular controls group at the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research is the chairman of the MRC committee, and the members are mostly scientists working in universities, research council institutes and charity funded laboratories.

United Kingdom, Finance, Medical research, Gene therapy

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Bringing a community-based vision to the heart of Europe's research: The European Union's new research commissioner hopes that his plans to promote science will win over critics in the European Parliament

Article Abstract:

Philippe Busquin, the European Union's new research commissioner, is keen for the commission's research budget to concentrate on projects that raise the quality of life in Europe, as well as its economic competitiveness. Busquin has a background in science, teaching physics at a teacher-training college before moving into politics full time in 1977. His main priority is to create a European scientific community.

Management, Officials and employees, Research, European Union. European Commission

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NIH opposes plans for patenting 'similar' gene sequences

Article Abstract:

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) are challenging a ruling by the US Patent and Trademark Office that patents should be granted to genomic sequences similar to those already understood if their function can reasonably be predicted. NIH officials argue that with genes, unlike chemicals, even small differences can crucially alter function.

Intellectual property, Genomes

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