Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research has sparked incredible scientific and public excitement, as well as significant controversy. hESCs are pluripotent, which means, in theory, that they can be differentiated into any type of cell found in the human body. Thus, they evoke great enthusiasm about potential clinical applications. They are…

Expresses concern that the dramatic increase in federal support of biomedical research, specifically the doubling of the National Institutes of Health budget, is producing an excess of Ph.D. graduates in biomedical sciences. Suggests that continual increases in program enrollment are primarily driven by personnel needs of the academic research…

The scientific community's expectations for biomedical research exceed funding capacity. Despite national social and economic problems, funding for biomedical research is already high. Additional funds will not solve the problem entirely. The biomedical community must set priorities and allocate money accordingly. New policies for allocating funds…

Changes in biomedical research are outlined including financial competition that forces investigators to spend more time developing proposals and creates pressures to produce quickly; obsolescence of equipment, facilities, people, and knowledge; demand for interdisciplinary approaches and greater accountability; joint ventures with profit making…

Provides a summary of some of the recent activities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from the perspective of the current director. Emphasizes making NIH better known to the American people and presenting the attractions of the many roles in health-related research to young people formulating career plans. (TW)

The federal role in postsecondary education is seen as a complex one, with over 400 separate legislative provisions to influence federal spending for higher education. Virtually every federal agency is said to be involved in some manner. The performance of the Carter administration in higher education is evaluated. (MLW)