April 29, 2013
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Navigating the Junk Science of Fetal Pain
Junk science has been driving the legislative debate over “fetal pain” laws, making rational, scientific policymaking about women’s health nearly obsolete.
Life Sciences, Health & Bioethics Articles
April 26, 2013
BIOETHICS
On the Ethics of Publishing Genomes
A story that began in 1951 and continues to play out today reminds us that it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to guarantee the long-term confidentiality of genetic information.
April 24, 2013
SMART HEALTH
How Smartphones Are Revolutionizing Home Care For Alzheimer’s And Autism Patients
As technological innovation empowers consumers to take greater control over their lives, creative new apps are helping home care workers better assist Americans with Alzheimer’s and autism.
April 3, 2013
NEUROSCIENCE
President Obama Launches $100 Million Initiative To Map The Human Brain
Whether the President’s BRAIN initiative will be the successor to the human genome project, only time will tell. But whatever the results of research, simply asking hard questions has always led to its own rewards.
March 19, 2013
PUBLIC HEALTH
Bloomberg’s Supersize Soda Ban Rejected By Judge, But Backed By Science
As an increasing body of research has tied the consumption of sugary drinks to obesity, public efforts like Bloomberg’s represent one small step toward reorienting a culture where portion sizes have continued to spiral out of control.
March 15, 2013
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Why You Should Care About The Increasing Amount Of Fraud In Scientific Research
The number of scientific articles retracted due to fraud has increased tenfold since 1975, and some of these fraudulent studies have done real damage to the public’s trust in science.
February 22, 2013
RESEARCH ETHICS
Keeping Good Research from Going Bad
The Obama administration has called on researchers to minimize the risks of dual-use research.
January 24, 2013
E-HEALTH INNOVATION
Blue Pill or Red Pill?
The electronic medical record could save the clinical trial, cut health care costs, and improve the value of research.
January 11, 2013
BIOETHICS
Supreme Court Allows Assault On Stem Cell Research To Die
This week, the Supreme Court announced it would refuse to hear arguments seeking to ban federally funded research using embryonic stem cells, effectively setting the issue of limited federal funding for such research to rest.
January 9, 2013
E-HEALTH & PRIVACY
Your Medical Data in the Cloud? Not So Fast, Says HHS Privacy Official
Health and Human Services privacy chief on cloud computing and electronic medical record security: “The technology, the movement, and the practices are way ahead of the policy.”
December 18, 2012
BIOETHICS
The Tricky Business of Defining Mental Disorders
As the nation reflects in the wake of a the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, the American Psychiatric Association is preparing to release a major revision to its classification system for mental disorders.
November 13, 2012
LAW AND BIOETHICS
U.S. Stem Cell Research Policies in Need of an Update
While the infamous stem cell research case of Sherley v. Sebelius receives yet another ruling in the DC Circuit, questions remain about the usefulness of the Dickey-Wicker Amendment in the face of rapidly changing science.
September 4, 2012
BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION
Looking for Cures Lost in Translation
Surprisingly few of the billions of federal dollars spent on biomedical research go toward translating basic science discoveries into workable therapies. But a brand new NIH program is taking small steps in the right direction.
August 30, 2012
BIOPOLITICS
Biotech is Thrusting Us into New Political Territory
Think you know your left from right, in the debate over 21st century biopolitics? When it comes to biotechnology, think again. Stem cells, embryo research and synthetic biology are just a few of the issues that will force strange new political alliances
August 20, 2012
The Hard Path to Open Source Bioinnovation
The “open source” software movement may have created your browser, it you’re using Firefox. But the open source movement in biotechnology is less well-known. This article explains why.
August 13, 2012
BIOETHICS
The Problems With Pre-Exposure HIV Prevention
A revolutionary new pill substantially reduces the risk of HIV infection if taken properly, but could also lead to more risky behavior and higher rates of infection if taken improperly. What’s a drug-maker to do?
July 30, 2012
NEUROETHICS
Neuroethics 101
Applied neuroscience—from neuromarketing, to mind-reading, to cognitive lifestyle enhancement— is rapidly becoming a reality affecting commerce, national security, and culture. This primer looks at where we are going, and what we need to look out for.
July 16, 2012
BIOETHICS
Is It Time to Reconsider the National Organ Transplant Act?
In the a classic debate over organ and tissue donation, scholars and advocates argue over an altruism- or market-based approach. But a recent decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opens up new middle ground, at least for some kinds of tissue.
June 26, 2012
HEALTH AND BIOETHICS
How Conflicts of Interest Make Chemotherapeutics More Expensive
American cancer patients are suffering from a critical shortage of certain life-saving drugs. Patricia Tereskerz and Ann Mills discuss how conflicts of interest ranging from Congress, to Medicare, to doctor-patient relationships may be to blame.
June 21, 2012
NEUROSECURITY
Beyond LASIK
A new painless, non-invasive technology can improve visual perception in healthy people. Dr. Moreno looks at the implications of transcranial magnetic stimulation for the warfighter and beyond.
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Science, Innovation, and Competitiveness
Science Progress and American Progress's Doing What Works project teamed up to produce a set of policy proposals that the Obama administration and Congress can adopt to reinvest in the building blocks of American science, innovation, and economic competitiveness. Read the overview of the five reports.
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