We would like to create a model that goes from molecule to behavior to clinical application. This is really spectacular. The RAC would be reviewing issues related to the death of a young man taking part in an NIH-supported clinical study of gene therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. The safety, and successes and failures of gene therapy clinical trials, as well as what oversight roles NIH and the Food and Drug Administration should have in the conduct of such studies were all concerns slated to be discussed at the RAC meeting. Regulation is handled by FDA, he continued.
Gene therapy is one of a variety of therapeutic modalities, all of which have risks.
I believe gene therapy has promise despite the unfortunate events and that we need to take a longterm outlook. Health Disparities Addressed Another issue that merited special mention in the 2000 appropriation was the marked difference in health status between minority and majority populations in the United States and the world. It's important that those of us who are charged with seeing technological improvements in medicine not lose sight of the fact that public health goals are paramount. In the 2000 budget, one of our key areas of emphasis is health disparities, both domestic and international. There are more than 50 new initiatives across NIH addressing various aspects of health disparities.