Biophysical Society Bulletin | September 2019

Public Affairs

Around theWorld Mexican President Eases Up on Researchers’ Travel Rules

Democratic Lawmakers Seek Answers on Fetal Tissue Research Restriction Following an outcry from the scientific research community on the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services to discontinue intramural fetal tissue research by the federal government and limit funding opportunities for researchers, two high-ranking Democrats are looking for an- swers. House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secre- tary Alex Azar asking for internal documents relating to the agency’s decision-making process. With no other adequate scientific alternative to fetal tissue for biomedical research currently available, the department’s decision threatens to interfere with important research and prioritizes ideology at the expense of scientific advancement. The letter further states that there have been no claims of improper conduct by researchers who use the tissue and points out that this deci- sion would cancel more than $100 million in federal funding on fetal tissue research. Bipartisan Genome-Editing Resolution Introduced in the Senate In the wake of the announcement earlier this year that a geneticist gene-edited two human embryos and potentially a third, a bipartisan group of Senators have introduced a resolu- tion, S Res 275, calling for international ethical standards for gene-editing research. While not binding by law, the resolu- tion put forth by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Jack Reed (D-RI) express opposition to experiments in China using genome-edited human embryos in pregnan- cies. Further, S Res 275 supports an international commission on genome editing convened by the National Academies and the Royal Society, and encourages the Secretary of State to work with other nations and international organizations to “forge an international consensus regarding the limits of ethical clinical use of genome-edited human embryos.”

In early May, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced austerity measures on international travel for scientists and deep cuts to research budgets. The austerity measures were implemented as part of a presidential initia- tive to rid the government of corruption and slash excess gov- ernment spending. Just over a month later, Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology backtracked on the approv- al requirement for scientists so long as researchers were not in “command and liaison positions.” With the budget austerity measures remaining intact—deep cuts to research budgets, decreasing funds for equipment maintenance, gasoline to collect field samples, and even the use of electricity inside research facilities—the change in travel approval measures has done little to assuage concerns among researchers on the future of science in the country. Sweden Passes Law for National ResearchMisconduct Agency In response to several high-profile incidents, Swedish Parlia- ment has taken steps to address issues of scientific miscon- duct. Parliament enacted a new law on June 18 to formally create the Research Misconduct Board to oversee cases of misconduct from public higher education institutions, central government agencies, municipalities, county councils, and private education providers. Currently, institutions investigate allegations internally, which can lead to cases not being treat- ed fairly or lack of transparency. Beginning in January 2020, the new government agency will handle all allegations of serious research misconduct to standardize investigations— as different universities may disagree on what falls under misconduct—and eliminate potential conflicts of interest within the institutions.

September 2019

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