Study: Republicans Stymie Sensitive Medical Research

Important US research to reduce HIV infection may have been prevented in recent years because scientists have censored their funding requests in response to political controversy, according to a study published on Tuesday.

Writing in PLoS Medicine, the academic journal, Joanna Kempner from Rutgers University identified a "chilling effect" on researchers seeking grants from the government-backed National Institutes of Health after their work was questioned by Republican lawmakers and Christian groups.

The findings suggest politics influence scientists' willingness to conduct research, and raise warnings at a time of continued sensitivity over medical research topics from sexual behaviour to stem cells.

Among 82 researchers polled by Ms Kempner, who had received money from the NIH, almost a quarter had dropped or reframed studies around sexual behaviour they judged to be politically sensitive, and four had made career changes and left academia as a result of the controversy.

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Comments

[OgreDaddy]

The religious right is Wrong with a big W.

Stem cell research is needed to help people suffering NOW.

People who live with nerve damage like me
and our soldiers and our kids who have suffered spinal chord
injury.

How about praying for a cure to help people rather than proclaiming that it is God's will that
people suffer needlessly.

[annieR]

The movie "Angels in America" chronicled the Reagan administration's suppression of information and action on AIDS. More people died than would have otherwise. Some things never change.

[lunchlady]

More ugliness from the NeoCons. Send them back to their churches and out of the worlds of Science and Politics. They think Science is bad in general- evolution, birth control, AIDS research, stem cell research. Maybe they should eschew all products of science then- health care, medications, food processing, vaccinations, etc. etc. If they hate modern progress then let them live without any of it.

[kellygrrrl]

the blocking of stem cell research by the Bush Administration is cruel and unusual punishment and should be prosecuted.

this latest stunt by Bush to shove through legislation stating that health care providers may refuse to treat or dispense medication based on their religious beliefs is criminal, as well.

[kellygrrrl]

yes, I'm sure JesusChrist would never want HIV to be eradicated!

this corrupted and perverted version of Christianity is really grotesque!

[Dystopic]

There are people out there who will not move over for an ambulance, I say let's give them a tatoo signifying to the ambulance drivers to take the long way with these people, or not pick them up at all.

There are people out there who think that medical research should be done under biblical guidance, any research and treatment derived from that research should be denied those people. Stem cells are a prime example, same with HIV treatments.

God is not going to heal you, he fails every time. God is not going to resurrect you, God is not going to make you turn from gay to straight. Get used to it.

Most people who attribute prayer to recovery benefit more from a positive outlook. You may very well have had and beaten cancer without ever knowing you had it. Worrying creates stress, which inhibits healing

Politics and religion have no place in science or medical research. If you are a religious person doing medical research, that is great, but don't let religion be the arbiter of what gets researched.

Religion is causing abortions. Religion is causing rising AIDS cases. We have effective treatments for abortion & HIV - condoms and comprehensive sex ed, both of which are demonized but the religious nuts out there.

Republicans say they are pro-life, they are not pro-life by any stretch of the imagination - they are PRO-BIRTH.

[kellygrrrl]

I'd also like a big red W tattooed on the forehead of everyone who voted for Shrub.

[ed238yth]

Why link to an article that requires a login when the original article in PLOS Medicine is OPEN ACCESS?
Read it for yourself at
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?SESSID=63497beb04da1602012268c3fbd8e2b0&request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050222

Support open access publishing!

[sak]

Disgusting. In the name of God, Republicans have killed and caused pain to millions of people.

[bmwracer]

Dems rule now... Full steam ahead....!!

[markusmarkus]

Our answer: President Obama! Nuf sed!

[TrooAmerican]

Republicans stifle creativity, curiosity, research, intellectualism, reading, math, science, linguistics, historical research as well as actually stifle the recording of the past with fraud that favors them, and they block education if its not what they say it should be.

[UnhyphenatedAmerican]

I suspect there are many fine projects which have kept under the radar for these eight years. I work in, arguably, one of the best. With both VP Quayle and VP Gore there was an open door for science. In the last years not only has the administration been against science and related endeavours, but the entire country has been blanketed. I can only equate it with the proverbial seven years of famine. Fortunately, now we will have furtile fields for our work.

I just heard Eric Schmidt, president of Google, on CSPAN. The incoming administration and times are really pulsating and good projects will once again have opportunity.

I am thankful our work has been able to survive and grow quitely for these years. We are here and we are ready. WE I am sure refers to a larger group than can be recognized just now. I think the garages and the wookwork are fully loaded with work ready to be put into implementation.

[GlenRast]

That the GOP has shut down scientific research to placate their Evangelical masters should come as no surprise. It was highlighted the last election by the popularity of Palin among the GOP core. No genetic research into causes and treatment for birth defects because they are God's will. Same for global warming. AIDS or course is God's punishment for homosexuals and unmarried sex. Let the Hubble die because all this research into the origins and age of the universe goes against creationism.

Lastly a population that questions and thinks cannot be as easily led as an uneducated bunch of drones so to the GOP and their Evangelical masters independent thought is the enemy.

[Dystopic]

Evangelicals hate science because science will disprove god someday.

[glaze]

Hey now!
Let's be fair and balanced in our criticism/damnation of Saint RegaNancy.
You have to admit their unflagging support for the advancememnt of the ONE practice that all the others depend upon-

The irrefutable, the infallable, the indisputable wonder of the ages...

The Supreme Science-

(drumroll, please)...

ASTROLOGY!

(cymbal crash)

[UnhyphenatedAmerican]

Astronomy, which is the data for astrology, contains valid information. Astrology is interpretive and, therefore, is dependent on the capabilities of the astrologer.
At least astrology has as its basis high quality accurate data.
In my experience that beats those who use the Bible as fact and then do not even have a truth based context for their interpretations. The general practice is to take the bible out of context. Putting any truth in a context which is changed from the original is therefore distortive and may or may not be valid. I am tired of have those who cannot read the bible in a valid context interfering with our country and our citizens.
I personally know of no case wherein any antrologer affected our country and our laws or our science. It is used for personal guidance.
Invariably those most against astrology are bible-quoters. They are the very ones who cite the Star of Bethlehem and the Magi, the astrologers from the East, as core to their beliefs.
The bible quoters remind me of those studying chaos theory who threw out all of the data that did not fit their theory. Whose however is that they impose their out of context quotes as rules for us all.

[GlenRast]

But if it's used for personal guidance by someone who influences public policy who's to say astrology didn't affect the policy chosen?

[3worldusa]

RELIGION IS THE PROBLEM,ALONG WITH THE PSEUDO GOD FEARING REPUBLICANS THAT STIFLE ANY REAL PROGRESS TO HUMANKIND.WHERES YOUR JESUS? HE MUST BE A SADIST.

[Dystopic]

I am waiting for an appropriate time to reveal myself. I know the ways of this world, and nothing is so obvious to me as the hypocrites.