CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL RESEARCHERS.  The NIH has requested applications from universities that would like to develop multidisciplinary clinical research career development programs, one of the new NIH Roadmap initiatives (http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-04-006.html). The AHC is planning to apply for one of these five highly competitive grants. The programs must include a structured curriculum in clinical research and a highly structured mentoring program for up to five clinical research scholars each year. Members of the AHC Clinical Research Task Force and other faculty are currently formulating plans for the program, which will be directed by Russell Luepker (SPH). Because of the complementary strengths of the various AHC schools and colleges and because the Clinical Research Task Force has been working on related issues affecting clinical research since early last year, the university is well-positioned for this competition.

WHAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS ABOUT THE FDA AND PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT.  It is important for clinical researchers to be aware of the public impressions and concerns about clinical research and drug development, especially if we hope to have the public’s support for our research institutions and participation as research subjects. In November PBS aired a Frontline program, Dangerous Prescription, on the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry, which you might find very interesting. The series can be viewed at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/prescription/.