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Advocates Express Concern About Embryonic Stem Cell Research Guidelines As Comment Period Closes
Supporters of embryonic stem cell research have expressed concern about the impact on existing research efforts under the Obama administration"s draft guidelines outlining criteria for federal funding of stem cell research, the Washington Post reports. The public comment period for the guidelines ends Tuesday and has generated more than 20,000 comments addressing nearly every element of the proposal. The guidelines, which NIH issued in April, propose limiting federal funding for the research to stem cells derived from unused embryos created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients who have given written consent. Former President George W. Bush in August 2001 enacted restrictions limiting federal funding for the research to the 21 stem cell lines existing at the time. Although President Obama in March signed an executive order lifting Bush"s restrictions, some proponents of embryonic stem cell research have suggested that Obama"s plan could actually jeopardize many existing research efforts. The Obama administration is expected to issue its final version of the guidelines by July 7, the Post reports.After Bush restricted federal funding to the embryonic stem cell lines already in existence, many researchers turned to private donors and state governments for the financial support to create hundreds of new lines. Although supporters of the research initially were pleased that the Obama administration"s guidelines would allow federal funding for research on these new existing lines, some are now concerned that certain stipulations in the new guidelines could actually disqualify these research efforts from receiving federal funding. For example, NIH"s proposal requires that couples who wish to donate unused embryos for research sign a consent form indicating that they were fully informed of their alternatives. Although many fertility clinics provide information for couples about their other options, few clinics note these details in written consent forms, according to the Post. Therefore, existing stem cell lines derived from embryos donated by couples who did not sign the required consent forms could be ineligible under NIH"s draft proposal, the Post reports. In addition, many stem cell research supporters also expressed disappointment that only unused embryos created for fertility treatments would be eligible for federal funding.George Daley of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute said that the Obama administration"s guidelines "take 2009 standards and attempt to apply them retroactively, which isn"t really a standard that would allow most of the pre-existing lines to be acceptable for NIH funding." Lawrence Goldstein, director of the University of California-San Diego"s stem cell program, said, "It"s not that past practices were shoddy. But they don"t necessarily meet every letter of the new guidelines moving forward." Goldstein added that researchers would "have to throw everything out and start all over again" under the new proposed guidelines. Amy Comstock Rick, CEO of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, said that her group is "very concerned" about the funding prospects for existing research efforts, adding that if NIH officials do not modify the guidelines, "very little current research would be eligible" to receive federal funds. However, Raynard Kington, acting NIH director, said the agency is aware of the concerns and "will take them into consideration." He added that "it"s unambiguous that the intent of the president was to expand opportunities and research in this area," as long as such research is "scientifically worthy" and "ethically responsible" (Stein, Washington Post, 5/25).
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DxS' TheraScreen(R) K-RAS Companion Diagnostic Approved For Use With Amgen's Vectibix™ In Canada
DxS, a personalised medicine company, has had its TheraScreen: K-RAS Mutation Kit granted a licence by the regulatory body Health Canada for use as a diagnostic for anti-EGFR therapies and as the companion diagnostic for Amgen"s colorectal cancer therapy, Vectibix™ (panitumumab).
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Family Doctors: An Endangered Breed
"As more medical students shun primary care for higher-paid specialties, experts warn of a severe imbalance that could cripple the nation"s health care system," CNN Money reports. Luis Manriquez, a first-year student at the University of Washington School of Medicine wants to become a family doctor, an increasingly rare ambition. He will "probably make one-fourth the salary of a specialist while trying to pay down $140,000 on average in medical school debt." Manriquez says that "primary care physicians are considered to not do as much as specialists. ò€¦ People have told me that generalists are less respected as doctors."
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Rogers Media Partners With AstraZeneca Canada And Physical And Health Education Canada To Promote New Children's Wellness Program At My BestTM

Rogers Media is proud to join AstraZeneca Canada and Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) as a presenting partner of the school-based children"s wellness initiative, At My Best. The program addresses three key areas of wellness-physical, nutritional and emotional-and empowers teachers, parents and caregivers to inspire and motivate children and their families to make healthier choices today and develop lifelong healthy habits. A recent report found Canadian school children"s physical activity levels received an F grade for the third year in a row with only 13 per cent of Canadian children and youth meeting the minimum recommendation of 90 minutes of physical activity per day. In addition, most children are not getting the daily minimum requirement of fruits and vegetables, and a quarter of Canadian children are either overweight or obese. At My Best is a comprehensive and innovative solution to these issues. "This partnership is a great example of the public and private sector working together to make a difference in the lives of Canadians," says Andrea Grantham, Executive Director, PHE Canada. "Because Rogers Media and AstraZeneca Canada have taken a leadership role in supporting At My Best, we can make an even greater impact in meeting our goal of delivering quality health and physical education programs like At My Best to schools across the country." PHE Canada and AstraZeneca Canada assembled a team of educators with expertise in physical education, nutrition, health promotion and children"s wellness. Parents, children and health experts co-created a comprehensive, turn-key program to; reduce childhood obesity rates, improve nutritional health and raise children"s self-esteem. "We are thrilled to work with AstraZeneca Canada and PHE Canada on this important program," says Brian Segal, President, Rogers Publishing Limited. "We have always had a genuine commitment to the community and this joint venture is especially gratifying as we have joined forces with AstraZeneca, to forge a partnership that will better serve our own constituency." Created for students in kindergarten to grade three, At My Best launched in October 2008 and has rolled out to 1,000 schools in English and French across the country in the 2008/09. The program, which has been officially endorsed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, will be rolled out to another 1,000 schools each year. "AstraZeneca is committed to taking an active leadership role in supporting healthy initiatives such as At My Best," says Mark Jones, President and CEO, AstraZeneca Canada. "We are excited and proud that Rogers Media is working in partnership to inspire and motivate families to make healthier choices today, and develop lifelong healthy habits." For additional information about At My Best, please visit http://www.atmybest.ca. About Rogers Media Rogers Media is Canada"s premier combination of category-leading radio and television broadcasting, publishing, sports entertainment and online properties. Its Radio group operates 53 radio stations across Canada, while its Television properties include the five-station Citytv network; its network of multicultural OMNI television stations; Rogers Sportsnet, a specialty sports television service licensed to provide regional sports programming across Canada; and The Shopping Channel, Canada"s only nationally televised shopping service. Media"s Publishing group produces more than 70 well-known consumer magazines and trade and professional publications in Canada. Media"s Sports Entertainment assets include the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and Rogers Centre, Canada"s largest sports and entertainment facility. About Physical and Health Education Canada Physical and Health Education Canada, formerly the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD), is a national, charitable voluntary-sector organization whose primary concern is to influence the healthy development of children and youth by advocating for quality, school-based physical and health education. PHE Canada"s vision is "All Canadian children and youth living physically active and healthy lives" and as such advocates and educates for quality physical and health education programs within supportive school and community environments. For more information, visit http://www.phecanada.ca. AstraZeneca Canada Inc.


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