Ebola!!!!

[bhjelle at unm.edu]

OK, this post isn't really about Ebola. I just thought
I would write and remind those of you who have been wondering
why we know so little about emerging infections etc that now
might be a good time to write your senator and ask them
to support Mark Hatfield's amendment to restore the
massive, devastating cuts to NIH that are currently
under consideration.


We are talking about a 25% reduction in non-AIDS medical
research, and a 35% cut in civilian research in general.
Yet the NIH budget is too tiny (~$11 billion) to represent
any meaningful source of deficit reduction. Discoveries
made by NIH and its grantees also represent the scientific
foundation for much of the biotech and pharmaceutical
industries of the U.S., a massive and successful portion
of the economy that provides much tax revenue, not to
mention better lives for millions.

We now return to our usual paranoia...                

Brian