Does research matter? There are so many BIG things to worry about right now – jobs, housing, the overall economy, governmental gridlock – that many people struggle to see research as an urgent priority. Research seems like such a slow process, the rewards seem to come so much later than the investment. The process of research is complex. The language used to describe research is often confusing. So why discuss research now?
My goal in starting this blog, with an emphasis on topics related to clinical and biomedical research, is to convey why research matters to me, to my family, to my friends and ultimately, I hope, to you. Without continued progress in research and innovation, we have to concede that this is “as good as it gets”. And in a few cases, without further research, there are some conditions that are likely to get worse.
This post will provide a few high level questions, some of which will then serve as topics for more detailed entries.
- Question #1 – Do you know anybody who has been treated for a medical condition but did not benefit from the treatment? While modern medicine has made amazing progress, including the complete elimination of some diseases, the near eradication of others, there are still many common conditions that do not consistently respond well to treatment. For example, more than 40% of diabetics do not respond to any of the currently available treatments.
- Question #2 – Do you know anybody who has experienced an adverse reaction to a medical treatment? Whether through allergies or genetics, some people have negative reactions to medicines or other treatments. In a few cases, through emerging technologies including genetic testing, some of these negative reactions are preventable.
- Question #3 – Are we prepared for the next emerging infectious disease? Every few years, there is a new scare – whether H1N1, Nipah virus, Ebola or Hanta virus. Unlike chronic diseases or genetic diseases, infectious diseases can move quickly and challenge the healthcare infrastructure.
- Question #4 – Do we understand the triggers for most diseases? While we recognize that there are connections between a trait, such as obesity, and a condition, like diabetes; we do not know why some overweight people develop diabetes and others do not. Or why one person exposed to a chemical develops cancer and another does not. Understanding and managing the triggers of diseases is the key to prevention, but in many cases we still do not have a good understanding of the events that begin the cascade that becomes disease.
- Question #5 – Why are some diseases, including autoimmune conditions and autism, becoming MORE common? There is growing evidence that many conditions are more common now than a few decades ago. This seems like reverse progress.
This list could go on, but they lead back to a single point – are these questions that you would like to see answered? The answers to these questions matter to me, my family, my friends and I think to you too. “Research matters” because it is through research that we seek the answers to these and countless other crucial questions.
