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The article reflects on a report authored by administrative law expert Stephen Sedley concerning the failure of the British government to provide a publicly available independent and government-commissioned research about government policy making in an accessible and timely manner.

The article reports on the legislation co-sponsored by a U.S. Senator that would appropriate 10 million dollars to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for firearm research.

The author reflects on the need to overturn the funding freeze so a research effort on gun violence barred by Congress in 1997 can be started. Topics discussed include how large a public health problem gun violence in the U.S. is, why gun violence is considered a classic public health problem, and the move of U.S. political forces and special interest groups to block any public health approach to gun violence. She also explains that basic epidemiology is key to understanding the problem.

The article announces the research grant from the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) as well as the nomination for its prizes in 2016 along with its annual conference.

The article discusses task-force recommended budget cuts in Japan that would affect scientific research on many fronts including the country's ocean drilling research. Japan's Government Revitalization Unit made the noted science-related budget recommendations. The group focused on wasteful spending authorized by the previous administration, the Liberal Democratic Party.

There are huge inequalities in health research within and between countries. It is argued that this may hinder the process of setting and tackling mental health priorities. If this were true, establishing research priorities would be important. However, this is not a simple process and one must be aware of its limitations. Despite a plethora of declarations, funding for mental health research in low- and middle-income countries remains hard to find. In the absence of funding, establishing research priorities is seen by many as an exercise of lesser importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on how scholarly publishers may manage their publications during times of economic change. The author explains that scholars require information to study and that despite economic downturn, governments should remember that research translates to higher gross domestic product. Publishers can manage economic hardship by offering electronic only subscriptions to customers.

The article reflects on the need for reinvestments in the field of genetic research in Canada. Scientific discoveries from these researches are increasing the demand for patient services. Shortage of trained health care professionals in genetics is expressed. Views of several people are stated including Gail Graham, the chairman of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Specialty Committee in Medical Genetics.

The article features Unit for Suicide Research association of University of Gent in Belgium. According to the author, the Unit was founded in 1996 which aims to integrate and stimulate the study of suicidal behavior, increase the visibility of the research work, and provide evidence-based information to health policy-makers, the general public, and the media. As director of the unit, the author provides a summary of the activities according to its type of study, whether as the study of epidemiology, suicidal behavior, or as biological and psychological characteristics of suicidal behavior.

For many years, there has been a necessary but at times uneasy relationship between companies that produce medications and physicians who prescribe them. Often, research physicians develop information that the companies apply to commercial production of targeted products. The price of such development is huge and leads to aggressive promotion of specific products, with various measures and inducements that range from the blatant to the subtle seeking to influence physicians. Some writers produce articles using information from the company about its products, and then the company seeks clinicians in practice to have their names used as the authors.

Questions whether genomics knowledge will be used to help developing countries. View that global health research has not been used to improve the health of people in developing countries; Discussion of private and public goods, the free market, and other economic aspects of genomics knowledge; View that collective action is needed to achieve the best production and use of genomics.

Examines the importance of secrecy among scientist in the U.S. Analysis of data-sharing habits; Association between secrecy and the ethics of medicine; Implementation of requirements on sharing data.

Ruth L. Kirschstein, MD, is the Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a position she has held since January 1, 2000. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of the NIH for 6 years and as Director of the National Institute of General Medical Services for 14 years. Her research work on polio contributed to the selection of the Sabin vaccine for public use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Discusses the need for reform in international policies regarding health research. Statistics which illustrate disparities in health research funding; Suggestion that financial and intellectual imbalances have contributed to the poor governance of global health research; Role of research in the policy-making process; Outlook for donor support for the training of researchers in developing countries.

Reports that the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will confer with university researchers to develop ideas for collaboration. Intention of the so-called University Initiative to target several areas including space flight, Earth science and aerospace technology; Reduction in NASA's research spending due to budget cuts; Concerns about funding.

Presents information on the Montreal Brain Tumour Research Centre, a facility at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute in Quebec. Plans of the center to concentrate on brain tumor diagnosis, treatment and research in 2000; Total combined staff; Scientist to head the research center.

Discusses scientific advancements in Germany despite numerous political and economic hardships in that country. Construction of the Large Hadron Collider at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics and the Very Large Telescope at the Eastern Southern Observatory; The reestablishment of research in East Germany following its reunification with West Germany upon the collapse of Communism; Impact on citizens of West Berlin whose wealth was distributed throughout both halves of the city.

The article deals with impact of an economic equilibrium on the levels of academic and industrial research in the U.S. The economic factors influencing research on paper production include a slowdown in consumption, a decline in paper production in Latin American and Asia, and possibility that university capacity in developing economy regions will be outpaced by demand. The tendency of industrial research to be conducted in the country or region where the owning company is based is mentioned.

Reports implications of a decrease of interest in careers in clinical research by physicians in the United States. How the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reported a drop in the number of applications for funding; Effects of managed care on the financial security of academic health centers; Recommendations of the US Institute of Medicine. INSET: Clinical research in practice.

Describes how to raise venture capital for a start-up business in research. Difficulty in raising money this way; Views of David Gibson of X-ray Optical Systems; Value of investing in life sciences; Investment trends; Writing a business plan; Choosing a non-academic business partner; Defining an exit strategy from the investment deal. INSET: Funding brings high-risk tecnhologies to the marketplace.

Describes how to start a research company. Importance of start-up companies in scientific research; Factors in the success of such companies; Work of Nicolas La Thangue at Prolifix in studying treatments for cancer; Difference between academic research and biotechnology; Views of Dinko Valerio of IntroGene; Importance of a good management team; Economic factors in small companies; State of biotechnology in the United States, compared with Europe. INSET: First write your business plan.

Reports on Canada's search for scientists from almost all disciplines to fuel its economy. History of being overshadowed in the acquisition of international scientists by the United States; The quality of the nation's research output; The concentration of opportunities; What the government is doing to attract new scientific talent.

Discusses the goals of scientists in the United States. Focus on international collaboration; Views of Bruce Alberts of the National Academy of Sciences, Harold Varmus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Rita Colwell of the National Science Foundation (NSF); How US science is isolated from the rest of the world; Amount spent by the US government on research; Critics of US science policy.

Describes plans by the World Bank to focus on supporting knowledge base development in developing countries. Work of two internal task groups; Loans and direct aid for research; Need for developing countries to use science to become economically competitive; Knowledge gap between rich and poor countries; Views of the World Bank's Ian Johnson; Bank's familiarity with science; Research and lending wings of the bank. INSET: Taking knowledge to the poorest, by David Dickson.

Presents several brief news articles related to science for December 1998. Call for more funding for United States research agencies from 24 senators; Plans proceeding for the Mars Express mission of the European Space Agency (ESA); Catherine Cesarsky favored to be the next director of the European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany.

Examines the work of Thomas Ostros as Sweden's minister of education and science. His ideas about how the state should interact with other sectors; Plans to increase state spending on basic research; Criticisms of Ostros based on the desire to spend funds on applied research; New science policy to be issued next year; Debate over management of independent foundations focused on applied research.

Analyzes job prospects for cell biologists in the next decade. More faculty positions for biomedical PhDs in the United States expected; Impact of increased research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH); Prior pessimism about research careers; Low turnover of faculty positions; Other opportunities for young researchers; Jobs in industry; Postdoctoral work in industry; Reasons for expanding faculty numbers. INSET: Developing `chemical genetics,' by B.H..

Discusses a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Need for broader public understanding of the way the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocates its research funds; Details on the report, `Scientific Opportunities and Public Needs; Improving Priority Setting and Public Input at NIH'; Committee hearings on the way the NIH sets priorities.

Discusses how popular interest in dinosaurs has benefitted paleontology. New discoveries which have revived the field; Research on a fish-eating dinosaur by Sereno et al in this issue; Impact of the 1970s idea that dinosaurs were warm-blooded and active; Increased enrollment in classes about dinosaurs; Regional museums about dinosaurs; Private funding for paleontology; Funding from fossils; Corporate funding.

Reports that Microsoft Corp. will open a research center in Beijing, China. China's fast-growing computer business; Microsoft's intention to make computers more user-friendly for Chinese speakers; Center to be directed by Kai-Fu Lee; Center to be called Microsoft Research (MSR) China; The company's facility in Cambridge, England; Details about the Beijing center; Information market in China.

Describes the state of scientific research in Romania as of June 19, 1998. Science policy under former leaders Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu; Science following the Ceausescu's executions in 1989; Romania's proud history of research; Crumbling scientific infrastructure; Inability to buy new equipment for research; Other funding difficulties; Role of the Romanian Academy; Government's enthusiasm for applied research versus basic.

Discusses planned appropriations for science research in the 1999 United States budget. Details for the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Next Generation Internet program.

Compares funding for scientific research in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, as of March, 1998. Impact of region's economic crisis on research, including long-term development plans; How each country views the value of science; Concern about the existing culture of science and how it is manifest; Need for broader view of how science is done; Lack of public understanding about research's nature; Roles of national academies.

Highlights the annual `Economic Report of the President' issued by United States President Bill Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers in February 1995. Examples illustrating the importance of basic science and research to the country's economy; Rate of economic return of optical fiber research and development; Spending on basic research by companies in 1993.