Table of Contents
Health and Medicine International Issues Fellowships and Postdoc Opportunities Policy and Research Issues Events and Open Meetings

Health and Medicine


Vaccine Exemptions May Have Increased Rates of Whooping Cough

Rates of whooping cough were almost 90 percent higher in the 19 states where parents can exempt their children from vaccinations for personal beliefs than in states that allow exemptions only for medical or religious reasons, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has issued many reports on concerns about the safety of childhood immunization. The reports found no causal link between vaccines and autism or sudden infant death syndrome. The Institute also offers an informational website about immunization safety.

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Studies Find That Blacks Receive Lower-Quality Health Care

A series of studies on race and health published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that racial minorities regularly receive lower-quality health care than whites in the United States. They are less likely to undergo major surgeries at hospitals that specialize in those procedures. Among Medicare enrollees, black patients fared worse than white patients on several health measures regardless of the quality of their insurance plans. In addition, black women are less likely to survive breast cancer than their white counterparts.

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Possible Link Between Military Service and Lou Gehrig's Disease

A limited number of studies suggest an association between military service -- including in the Gulf War -- and later development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare but fatal disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Because there are so few studies, more research is needed to confirm this link.

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Fellowships and Postdoc Opportunities


State Dept. Fellows Program Accepting Applications

The Jefferson Science Fellows Program is now accepting applications. Administered by the National Academies, the program offers senior academic scientists and engineers the opportunity to advise State Department policymakers on science and technology. Each Fellow will spend one year at the US Department of State for an on-site assignment in Washington DC that may also involve extended stays at US foreign embassies or missions. Applications are due December 31.

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International Issues


Native Vegetables Could Help Solve Africa's Food Crisis

Greater effort to explore the potential of native vegetables in Africa could lead to enhanced agricultural productivity, more stable food supplies, and higher incomes in rural areas across the continent, a new National Research Council report says.

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Conference Held for Project to Develop African Science Academies

Stronger African science academies can help save lives by informing public policies that are critical to food security on the continent, said organizers of the second annual international conference of the African Science Academy Development Initiative, held the week of November 13-17 in Yaounde, Cameroon. The initiative is supported by a $20 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and administered by the US National Academies.

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Policy and Research Issues


Smart Prosthetics Conference Spurs Research

Top researchers gathered at the fourth annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative conference to discuss smart prosthetics and other assistive devices. To encourage further work in this field, the Academies announced the availability of $1 million in seed grants that will be awarded on a competitive basis to conference participants.

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New Booklet Provides Basics on Stem Cell Research

A new educational booklet from the National Academies provides a basic overview of the scientific and ethical issues surrounding stem cell research. It is designed to help students, policymakers, news media, and the general public better understand the study of stem cells and their potential for treating disease. The booklet cites previous National Academies reports but does not contain new findings or recommendations.

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Events and Open Meetings


EVENT: Gas Prices Got You Down? Revving Up Innovations in Fuel Technology

With fuel prices and concern over global warming heating up, what's being done to cool things off with more efficient fuels and engines? Join NPR Talk's Moira Gunn, who will moderate a discussion with leading policy and energy experts, for a thought-provoking look at current challenges and future opportunities in fuel innovation. The event will take place December 7th from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the National Academies' Koshland Museum in Washington DC. More information about the evening's program is posted at the accompanying link.

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WORKSHOP: Infectious Disease Surveillance and Detection: Assessing the Challenges, Finding Solutions

Disease surveillance and detection are crucial weapons in the fight against newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Technological advances have contributed to public health surveillance and disease diagnostics, but many developing countries--where most of the global population resides--do not have adequate infrastructure to support such activities. The Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats will discuss these issues at a 2-day workshop December 12-13, to be held in the National Academies' Keck Center in Washington DC. The workshop is free and open to the public.

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COLLOQUIUM: Evolution and Exploration of Solar Systems

Join us for the Sackler Colloquium on "Evolution and Exploration of Solar Systems" January 5-7 in Irvine CA. The colloquium will provide a forum for discussion and assessment of current understanding of the nature of our solar system and a comparison with other planetary systems. Registration and other information is posted at the accompanying link.

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