Posted by Sandy Donchess on October 25, 1998 at 22:57:56:
In Reply to: Re: Special Initiative in Autoimmune Disease Research posted by Al Gordon on October 25, 1998 at 21:45:36:
I was simply being conversational, Al. Autoimmune disorders do seem to cluster in individuals and families, and I was relating how they have clustered in me and mine.
I don't believe anyone fears what's in the egg. I worry that they want to know everything about the egg and how it grows and how it is affected as it grows and how its genes work and interact with its proteins and enzymes and what kind of nest it should be laid in and what kind of chicken would be best or worst to have it. I'm sure that all of this and more will be researched and studied, with the goal of first understanding everything and then developing "elegant" treatments and cures. I would like to see action taken based on what can be done now, for those of us who may not have much time. This can be done concurrently with the research to find out the why's and wherefore's.
I agree with MAR's post: what can we do NOW to affect what the NIDDK and NIAID do with their "bonus"? Is there anything that CAN be done? Will the DRWG report guide/rule what all the institutes at NIH do? Should we write letters to the NIAIH to let them know what we want? Should we withdraw from pestering the government to help fundraise for JDF in the hopes that their efforts will provide clinical applications sooner? Does anyone know anything about the NIAID leadership and history, and what the prospects are for technology such as islet encapsulation?
I'm looking for thoughts and opinions here. What does anyone else think?