This article describes the results of a "blue-ribbon" panel convened to discuss reforms at NIH. National Academy of Sciences president, Bruce Alberts "wants to completely restructured the array of study sections operated by NIH's Center for Scientific Review (CSR) which pass judgement on about three-quarters of NIH grant applications".. According to this article CSR has already "fashioned new study sections that handle applications from clinical researchers who feel they don't get a fair shake in panels dominated by laboratory researchers and to provide homes for research proposals that don't seem to fit anywhere else". What prompted the move to change the CSR system was a belief that the peer-review method was too often marred by "error-prone, turf-conscious nitpicking by obsolete study sections that reject novel ideas out of fear, ignorance or self-interest." Ann's NOTE: There is a long way to go to fix the existing system. I have heard the complaints raised by researchers who are outside of the usual establishments, or areas of study. They do feel short-changed. It has been shown that the system favors those in postitions of power or key areas rather than new researchers. A prime example of this is the work done by the Department of Defense with its breast cancer research funds. The DOD chose to fund new idea people. This was a radical step. It is acknowledged by "insiders" that the best way to get funding is to have had funding. A bit of an "old boy network" thing. Changes could be beneficial. I hope that "consumers", that is what they call concerned citizen activists, can be involved in these discussions. We often add the forgotten human face. Statment by Margaret Borwhat Women's Cancer Advocacy Network, 1/04 Ann's Comments: Pharmaceutical Give-aways Disclosure Letter (for Advocate Donations) Suggested 6/07 Reuters Article, 9/10/01 National/International Journals Guidelines Set By Doctors With Ties to Industry Tainted Medicine? NEJM Says NO MORE INDEPENDENT Docs Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, February 2001 Openess, Accountability Etc. Effects of Editorial Peer Review Br Med J, 11/01 Independent? Academic-Industry Research Harper's Magazine Helen Schiff Responds The Pink Ribbon Trap Think Before You Pink J Clin Oncology, 5/02 National Org for Women 12/01 Life Extension Reveals Price Comparisons American Healthcare is the Best in the World If... JAMA Study January 2001 Survey of Toxicity Assess & Reporting Health System Failing Cancer Patients-Presidential Commission 20% New Drugs Later Show Serious Adverse Effects Adverse Effects Reporting Standards NEEDED Analysis: FDA Warning Ltrs to Investigators Onc Clin Trials Randomized Trials Stopped Early : Systematic Review Excerpts from article and what you can do Clin & Hosp Pharm Services & Medication ERRORS Patient Safety Awareness Week-Med Errors Drugs Over the Internet: Risky Off-label Drugs Can Do Damage Drug Complications: Outpatients Universal Protocol (Medical errors) Boston Ctr for Patient Safety Books on Medical Errors Organizational Silence & Hidden Threats to Pt Safety Dr. Frank Wells, Medico Legal Investiations, 1/15/02 Doctors Named as Authors May Not Have Seen Raw Data Doctors accused of Cancer Trial Bias American Oncologists May Not Regard Clinical Trials Data Not Fully Published Originally Informed Consent/Ethics Committee Approval Oncology Week in Review, 2/11/02 Misclassification of Cancer Deaths & Screening Trials Karen Lurie, PopPolitics.com from Alternet.org BioMedNet News, 1/15/02 Serious Drug Toxicities Found in Postmarketing John R.Durant Responds Timing of New Black Box Warnings/Withdrawals Does a Drug do Better When it is New? New Meds Seldom Contain Anything New:Study How Well Tested Are New Cancer Drugs? Variability in Safety Info in Pkge Inserts Expanded Access Programs for Investigational Drugs New York Times Magazine, 5/5/02 Managed Care Limits Communications:Doc/Pt "The Patient Failed Chemotherapy" Reimbursement Biggest Barrier to Integrative Practice Even Docs Are Confused by Medical Statistics, Study Shows Sorry, we lost the source "Animal Research Benefits Humans and Animals" Are Animal Studies Useful to Humans? Am J Health-Syst Pharm, 3/02 Nature, 3/02 Corp $$$ & Non Profit Groups Conflicts of Interest & Research Results Essential Guide to Health & Wellbeing May be NEITHER Conflict of Interest - Comments by Roy M. Poses, MD Letter re Ethics/Conflicts of Interest Oncology US Geological Survey 3/02 LINK to site where advocates learn about participation opportunities/newsletter Public Citizen, 5/02 Spending 2 1/2 Times More on Mktg/Adv/Admin THAN R&D Statement by Richard I. Smith, VP Policy & Research Financial Ties/Conflicts of Interest-Pharma/Tobacco Generic Makers Versus Pharmas Call for INDEPENDENT Funding of Patient Groups The Truth About the Drug Companies, by Marcia Angell JAMA, Number Needed to Treat/Absolute Risk Statistical Expertise in Med Research Tumor Response & Survival End Points: Clin Trials Patient Group Gets ECOG Study of LOWER Dose 57% of Safety Studies NOT Published for Five Years or at ALL July 3, 2002 The Nation via Alternet.org Letter to the Chronicle, Georgia Newspaper, 2002 Dr. Abbe, Athens, GA JAMA, 9/02 JAMA, 10/02 JNCI, 10/02 The Guardian (UK), 1/04 Cancer Journal Articles Lack Referenced Methods Selective Reporting: OUTCOMES in Randomized Trials Drug companies research, products more likely to perform well Canadian Assoc Radiol J, 6/04 References for Patient Navigation article JCNI, 7/02 All explained here Contributor to Research Papers:Accurate Views? Classification of Cancer Deaths When the Tumor is Not the Target:An Advocate's Journey Drugs Do NOT WORK on Most People Absolute #s BEST for Discussing Treatment Options Cancer is Top Killer - New Approaches Needed? Too Many Drug Trials Stopped EARLY Helping Doctors and Patients Make Sense of Health Statistics Janaury 19, 2004 New York Times Cindy Francine Hills Melancon, an OBIT Obits of Prominent Lesbians Dead of Cancer Harold Benjamin: Founder The Wellness Community Obit: Dr. Jeanne Petrek Obit: Vera Komarkova, Mountaineer, Age 62 Steve Dunn - Founder of www.cancerguide.org - Cancer Advisor Earl Woods, 74, Father of Tiger Woods - Prostate Cancer OBIT: Soraya Winner of Latin Grammy, Activist w/Hispanic Women Leslie H. Kopp, 53, Archivist Focused on Preserving Dance Barbara Gittings, 74, Prominent Gay Rights Activist Since ’50s, Dies Barbara Seaman, 72; Pioneer In Women's Health Mvment Lung Ca NCI Listens and Learns, 10/06 http://ncilistens.cancer.gov/ Annie Appleseed on State Cancer Legsltve Database Progr Biorepository Question - Annie Appleseed Comments Using Research Findings in Cancer Care - Annie Appleseed Comments Prioriting President Cancer Panel Recommendations - Annie Appleseed Comments Elimination of Cancer Health Disparities - Annie Appleseed Comments Eliminate Suffering/Death from Cancer - Annie Appleseed Comments Cancer Topics for 2006 NCI Teleconference Series Disappointed in New Patient Education Material Posted 12/06 more to come as they arise Nanoparticles Can Damage DNA, Increase Cancer Risk Nanoparticles of Alumina Slow Plant Growth A JAMA study Information Needs of Patients with Cancer Cancer Specialists Avoid Alt Therapies Patient Track-abstract (presented at conferences) Engaging Patients in Medical Decision Making Informed Consent Not Always Given Philanthropy News Digest, January 2008 LINK: "Raising Confidence in Health Decisions" "Whether you are considering a new job, an educational plan for children, a new personal trainer, or which medical approach will improve health, complete and accurate information enables the best decisions. When you examine varied options, inquire about comprehensive details, & discover evidence of success for each alternative, you can make a suitable choice. Matching the needs, the costs, & the benefits is the key to arriving at a personal decision". Excerpted from Oncology Treatment Updates Medscapes, Inc. 1999 Patient/Activist Perspective Why Chemotherapy May Lead To Cancer Potentially Fatal Adverse Effects From Chemo ONGOING Chemo at the End of Life: Analyzed Decision Process Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.