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One of the most contentious issues facing the NIH this year will be deciding what types of human embryo research should receive federal funds. President Bill Clinton has already ruled out one whole area.
Although Japan's clinical trial system mimics that of the United States, there are certain flaws in the Japanese regulations that prevent it from working effectively.
Graduate education in the sciences is not doing its job. By preparing students only for academic research, the system neglects the range of opportunities for work in science that young scientists want and society needs.
Caplen et al. (pages 39–46) demonstrate that it is feasible to use liposomes to transfer a human gene in vivo. Can this vector mimic the ability of viruses to effectively transfer genetic information into target cells?
By careful microscopic examination of in vitro fertilization (pages 47–52) Simerly et al. demonstrate the paternal origin of the human centrosome and reveal steps at which fertilization may fail.
Further progress in organ transplantation must overcome two key problems: a shortage of organs and long term immunological tolerance. Xenografts and immunological conditioning may help
For many years cholesterol was seen as the worst enemy of coronary arteries. Recent advances show that interactions between lipoproteins, coagulation and growth factors are important in atherosclerosis.
The demonstration, by Rutkowski et al. (page 80), that human Schwann cells can now be expanded to around 1 × 108 cells, provides a new opportunity for the study and therapy of myelin disorders.
Two recent reports provide further evidence for a link between coxsackieviruses and the onset of IDDM, although a careful examination suggests it is still too early to conclude a definitive role.
