Policy in Science This Week

A roundup of stories of policy interest in Science this week. (All links subscription.)

Malaria kills more than a million people a year around the globe. At an October meeting, Bill and Melinda Gates announced a long-term vision to eradicate the scourge. Science reports on the repercussions of the announcement within the global health community: “Even with those caveats, the call has ignited a debate on whether it is wise—given a long history of broken health promises—to dangle potentially unattainable goals before the public.” Many of the necessary tools—insecticide-treated bed nets, new drugs, and insecticide sprays—are available, but more powerful approaches are necessary in the most heavily effected areas, including vaccines, monitoring techniques, new drugs and insecticides.

How to improve U.S. student performance in mathematics? Start with the algebra curriculum. A forthcoming report from the National Mathematics Advisory Panel will describe in detail what a rigorous algebra curriculum should look like. Tensions within the math education community over prescribing standard approaches vs. student-tailored methods have slowed consensus. Science reports that “the report’s most important points are the need for students to master fractions, the importance of early childhood education, and the value of developing teacher skills, both during their training and after they are hired,” according to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings.

A federal panel convened to investigate the July death of Jolee Mohr, who was participating in a gene therapy trial aimed at alleviating her rheumatoid arthritis, has concluded that the the gene transfer treatment was likely not the cause of the fungal infection that killed her, although uncertainly on the questions remains. The FDA lifted its hold on the trial, conducted by Targeted Genetics Corp of Seattle, WA, last week.

Intelligence officials are asking for scientists to peer review their efforts to counter bioterrorism threats. “In addition to helping screen and design projects to combat bioterrorism, the [Biological Science Expert Group] will analyze research findings, review the scientific validity of intelligence assessments, and occasionally conduct its own studies.” There are plans to extend this review model to other areas of intelligence research and avoid fumbles like the 2002 misidentification of Iraqi bioweapons labs, which subsequent scrutiny revealed where hydrogen production facilities for weather balloons.

Tags: bioethics, medicine

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