Skip to main content

Make the presidential candidates tell us where they stand

Regular readers know that one of my biggest political issues is funding for the NIH – and frankly funding for scientific research as a whole. During the Bush administration funding for medical and scientific research has been cut dramatically.
Obviously, NIH funding is near and dear to my heart, and my lungs actually, as I’d like them to keep working. Oh, and I’d like my guts to keep working, and I’d like to not bleed everywhere, and hey, seeing better might be nice too.

The NIH is crucial to continuing HPS research.

But political issues surrounding science are often ignored.

Because these issues are so vital to our heath care, and the economic health of our country, a number of scientific associations, medical associations, Nobel Prize winners etc. are trying to organize a presidential debate about just science issues.

McCain, Clinton and Obama have been invited. So far none have accepted.

I’d love to see this debate. It would really help me make a decision about my vote.

If you’d like to join me in supporting a request to the candidates to take part in this debate, you can read more about it and sign your name to the petition here: http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=2

Comments

Anonymous said…
Thanks for sharing Heather.

Look forward to do the day when a visually impaired invdividual becomes President, we are just one step closer to that than we were yesterday.

Popular posts from this blog

Ratner's Cheesecake

Here's another recipe from Toby! Thanks Toby......and I'll get the others posted soon! Ratner's Cheesecake and plain cookies Ratner's was a Jewish dairy restaurant in the lower East Side of Manhattan. This recipe, from my disintegrating, no longer in print Ratner's cookbook, is the closest I've ever gotten to reproducing the rich, heavy cheesecake my mother made when I was a kid. It's worth the time it takes to prepare and every last calorie. Dough Can be prepared in advance. Makes enough for two cakes. Can be frozen or used to make cookies – see recipe below. 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup shortening 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 cup butter 2 eggs 3 cups sifted cake flour ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients with hands. Refrigerate 3 -4 hours, or preferably overnight. Filling (for

The next generation with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome

I'm so behind on posting about the trip to Puerto Rico. Since the episode of Mystery Diagnosis on Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome ran right after we got home, it's been a little busy. These, however, are my favorite pictures from Puerto Rico. I know, not pretty senery etc - but these little guys and gals inspire me. They are the next generation of folks with HPS, and if we keep up the hard work, they will live better lives because of it. They motivate me.

Some good news about Pirfenidone

Below is a press release from Intermune, the company that makes Pirfenidone. They have essentially reviewed the various clinical trials going on, and decided that Pirfenidone is safe and well tolerated. That would pretty much go along with what we've observed in the HPS community as well. We have a few folks that have been on the drug since the late 90s and continue to do well. Of course, as a journalist, I do have to say consider the source - but at the same time, as someone in a Pirfenidone trial, it's good to know. Results of Comprehensive Safety Analysis of pirfenidone In IPF Patients Presented At European Respiratory Meeting - Analysis shows safety and tolerability of pirfenidone across four clinical trials - VIENNA, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN ) today announced that the results of a comprehensive review of safety data from four clinical studies were presented at the 2009 European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria