Initiatives on Malaria ... (10)
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Barend Mons-
You make very good points, as usual, Barend! I therefore apologise for
my comment about the apparent number of bureaucracies listed on the new
group's website and my suggestion that non-research and administrative
budgets for malaria exceed research budgets. If we drag each other down
by presenting the research field as it's presented to the public (and
many scientists) in "The Malaria Capers" by Desowitz, or the "village
control" efforts as confounded by superstition, etc, malariology will
continue to have problems attracting all types of funding.
We all want to feel that what we do or have decided should be done, is
important and appreciated; even "hard-core" lab rat nerds and "top
level" administrators! Even getting the diverse malaria groups together
at a meeting and joining them at a website, is a formidable accomplish-
ment, and I appreciate your taking the time to explain the delays and
accomplishments. It's clear from the lobbying efforts by FASEB, ASP,
ASTMH, and other lobbying groups I've helped, that politics can work
also for science; NIH has gone from 9% funding to about 30%, with plans
for growth, since these efforts began in earnest. A public image of
consensus and co-operation (once decisions about priorities are deter-
mined) can be very helpful. I hope that your group can help to generate
an effective well-funded effort toward the common goal of better ma-
laria control, or, as I favour eventually, malaria eradication.
Best wishes,
Jerry
--
Gerald McLaughlin, Ph.D.
Dept Pathology and Lab Med
635 Barnhill Dr., MS A128
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120, USA
Tel: +1-317-274-2651
mailto:gmclaugh@iupui.edu
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