Blog Comments

Kinetica Online is pleased to provide direct links to commentaries from our senior editor Dr. Steven Pelech has posted on other blogs sites. Most of these comments appear on the GenomeWeb Daily Scan website, which in turn highlight interesting blogs that have been posted at numerous sites in the blogosphere since the beginning of 2010. A wide variety of topical subjects are covered ranging from the latest scientific breakthroughs, research trends, politics and career advice. The original blogs and Dr. Pelech’s comments are summarized here under the title of the original blog. Should viewers wish to add to these discussions, they should add their comments at the original blog sites.

The views expressed by Dr. Pelech do not necessarily reflect those of the other management and staff at Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation. However, we wish to encourage healthy debate that might spur improvements in how biomedical research is supported and conducted.

The Business of Basic Research

Submitted by S. Pelech - Kinexus on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 14:47.
Michael White's commentary is indeed correct in his characterization of most grant funded basic research. Grant panels favour "safe" research where there are solid hypotheses and a wealth of preliminary data from qualified investigators. Consequently, most basic research is pedestrian and plodding, but steady in its progress. Unfortunately, this course results in more of the same and thwarts truly innovative research and breakthrough discoveries. If only the NIH's funding of basic research was a little more like what Nicholas Wade envisioned it was.

Link to the original blog post.