October 23, 2015
As many in the research community know, the “Common Rule” refers to current regulations to protect individuals who participate in research as human subjects. The regulations, which have been in place since 1991, are followed by 18 federal agencies that support research – hence the name. Today I’d like to give you some background on how these regulations – and the conversation around these regulations – have evolved since 1991, and let you know about an opportunity to provide feedback on the modernization of these important rules. ….
October 19, 2015
Peter H. Schuck, the former deputy dean of the Yale Law School, recently published the book, Why Government Fails So Often: and How It Can Do Better, a rather depressing explanation of how public regard for government has steadily declined since the 60’s and 70’s. After 10 chapters that detail why the US Federal Government fails and fails again, along comes Chapter 11. No, not a chapter on bankruptcy, but on “Policy Successes.” And one of the several policy successes he mentions include an agency that you and I are well familiar with… the National Institutes of Health. The author notes, “Even small-government advocates generally concede an important role to the Federal Government [in] basic research – the creation of knowledge – in areas where private actors lack incentives to invest.” NIH-funded research has yielded important discoveries that have led to new treatments; has enabled excellent institutions of learning to flourish; has created cutting-edge job opportunities; and has forged strong collaborations with the private sector. ….
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