Politics, Science, and Dread Disease:: A Short History of United States Medical Research Policy (Commonwealth Fund Publications)

[by] Stephen P. Strickland. A Commonwealth Fund Book. Includes Bibliographical References. In 1927 the first bill to secure government support in the search for a cure for cancer was introduced to Congress. In 1971 Congress passed the Conquest of Cancer Act, which initiated a new and enlarged effort in the fight against cancer, including possible annual expenditures of up to one billion dollars. The forty-four years between these two dates have witnessed the evolution of medical research from a limited, private endeavor to a major national enterprise commanding substantial support from the federal government.In this first historical analysis of national policy in biomedical research, Stephen Strickland examines the rise of the National Institutes for Health, tells of the recurrent struggle between elected public officials and science administrators over the pace and direction of cancer and heart disease research; analyzes the roles that key members of Congress have played in the development of medical research; and discusses the medical research lobby and its founder, Mrs. Albert D. Lasker. What emerges is a clear picture of how government officials actually formulate national policy, not only in medical research but in other areas as well. Contents Preface I. Conquering Cancer: The Origins of a National Policy II. The War Years and Reconversion: Hazards and Possibilities III. The Rise of the Research Lobby: A New Mobilization IV. Federal Aid for Medical Education: The ΑΜΑ and Avenues Blocked V. Emerging Congressional Leadership VI. Consolidation: Policies and Politics VII. Lobbying Medical Professionals and Professional Medical Lobbyists VIII. The Dangers of Political Success IX. The Breakdown of the Coalition X. The End of an Era XI. An Assessment of Policy Results XII. Conquering Cancer: Renewing the Goal Notes. Index Notes Index