Customer Reviews

Tomorrow's Cures Today?: How to Reform the Health Research System

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Donald Forsdyke, a Professor of Biochemistry at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, has written a book about the medical research enterprise that simply had to be written. Medical research is a monumentally huge and costly enterprise with the lives, or quality of life, of millions of people at stake. On the face of it, only good things are happening but behind the scenes, many knowledgeable scientists lament the idiosyncracies of research funding, peer review and conformity in research that too often discourage medical scientists and obstruct their creativity and progress. The subtitle of Dr. Forsdyke's book says it all, "How to reform the health research system", and few would honestly argue that it doesn't need reform--profound, ongoing reform. Yet, contrary to so many other enterprises, e.g. our political party systems, our research enterprise has become monolithic, self-satisfied and resistant to serious self-examination. Dr. Forsdyke has provided the kind of level-headed critique that is long overdue. He has done so with more grace and and more careful analysis than many can muster after they have endured the grievous traumas of grossly unfair reviews of their research grant applications or submitted manuscripts. A moving example of obstructionism is documented under the title, "The slaughter of the innocents: diphtheria", the cost of which is measured in thousands of childrens' lives. Dr. Forsdyke deals with the foibles of peer review and research funding that lead to such calamities, big or small, documents his material carefully, and, above all, proposes realistic alternatives to current practices. This is a particularly valuable feature of this book. I hope that even critics of Forsdyke's suggestions will be open minded enough to give them careful consideration. One way or the other, reform is urgently needed and those who so steadfastly deny this simply prove the point, for no enterprise so important, complex and expensive can surely be beyond improvement! Forsdyke's book should be compulsory reading for all who are involved in research and research funding in any way. I hope it encourages other writers to confirm and extend the many important avenues explored by Forsdyke, including his concerns about partnership with the Drug Industry. Highly recommended! I purchased 10 books to share with my graduate students and friends .