Govt grants or funding???
Somewhere in the back of my mind is the little voice saying that when you take money from Uncle Sam, he wants to be a silent partner and have a big say in the direction of the research, and if the grant leads to a lucrative commercial operation, he'd like a little bit of that too, in addittion to the taxes.
Now I see no harm in a goverment GRANT with no strings attached, but I sure would rather hold my head high and be beholding to no one except my shareholders when my research/product/ became a commercial success.
I would be very against becoming involved with a grant from any source that gives the granting organization an interest or control of any product or process developed for commercial application from that grant.
On the other hand, I have no qualms about paying the taxes on the profits, and I would not be against DNAP providing a few grants of it's own some day in the near future.
The Buffulo DNA chase seems to involve DNAP, as inferred from the classifications of ancestry we've seen published. Perhaps we are about to see a few news stories about the little company in Florida, "THAT AS AN OFFSHOOT TO IT'S DRUG ----" developed the forsenic tool that has been instrumental in two major cases since coming into the investigative toolkit less than two years ago. I do hope that whoever is at this moment writing the PR that will be released after the Buffalo Police have announced a solid capture, will play up the angle of DNAP's medical applications. Wouldn't hurt to let the public know that this pony has many more than one trick!
I would fully expect additional news coverage after a Buffalo capture, and this time, with two "big time" apprehensions aided by DNAP, DNAP is the story. Let's let the reporters play up on how that DNA-wittness is an adjunct to the medical applications, drug efficacy and testing individuals to find out beforehand, what can work best for that individual.
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Tie that into the current fear of the FDA approved suicide pills that big pharma foists on us for profit, while overcharging us claiming R&D is expensive. Unfortunately, I guess these pharmas consider thier legal defense fund part of the R&D budget. I wonder how the budget is in a big pharma, what with all those treats for the doctors to get them to prescribe "x" instead of "Y". Considering they all compete to raise physician awareness, wouldn't it be nice if they'sd just say, "x" isn't as effective as "y", and we're withdrawing it and going back to the lab to make a better product? No friends, I'm afraid I've yet to see a report where that happens. Perhaps one of you with your extensive research in this field have heard of some "our product has been superceded by a better product by a competitor and we are going to cease production of "x" until we can make it better or provide a new improved than "y"." Or have we all just seen more marketing? Why are drug companies advertising on TV, with adds that are aimed at promoting a product THAT IS A PRESCRIPTION ? Why is there little print on the screen warning of adverse side effects? I'd prefer my doctor knew all this. I don't need to be enticed. I trust my physician to prescribe what's going to work for me, and not for the benefit of marketers and bean counters at "X" company.
We all know DNAP is fighting an uphill battle against an entrenched foe. That foe is numerous and well funded. The battle is ongoing, and I don't even know for sure when it started. Perhaps when DNAP first started, pharma noted and kept a weather eye. The battle is joined now, and pharma has been slapped hard by a scientist at the FDA. People are concerned and aware of track record pharma has created for pricing schemes and marketing tactics that bear a greater resemblance to a "pirates code" than the Hypocratic oath. Throw in an FDA that is more interested in approving the big boys products, (that's where the money is for those post-government service jobs), and you have a scandal about to really explode. I hope DNAP is prepared to at least publicize the promise of it's research so that the public can mull over the concept of tailoring the drugs you are prescribed by "who you are" and not by who profits!
Stakddek
