Hope, hype and hypocrisy

[Guest guest]

Yes, I truly believe that there is genuine reason to be hopeful that we will

see better therapies for lymphoma in the not-too-distant future .

..but also that there is good reason to take many a press release with a

grain of salt. This article explains why.

==

Hope, hype and hypocrisy

Gannon

Snips (link to full text below)

" The results presented in this paper open new approaches for future

treatments of cancer. "

" The new institute will provide the framework in which scientists and

clinicians can work together to develop new treatments for patients. "

" This start-up company will bring breakthrough research all the way from the

laboratory to the clinic. "

These are just three examples of the claims that abound in scientific

publications and press releases. To the unsuspecting reader, these give the

impression that the cure for cancer-or any other terrible disease-is just

around the corner, if only we could be more patient and invest a bit more.

Yet, seldom is reality equal to the promise of a press release.

This hype is particularly prominent in the biomedical sciences because it

preys on the hopes of sick people who thus become gullible and intoxicated

by the promise of a cure.

.. hype is spreading for several reasons including:

the increasing pressure on institutions and researchers to secure funding

from diverse sources;

the requirement that scientists explain the relevance of their work to the

general public; and

the fact that many grant applications require the applicant to explain the

impact of the work on society.

At a higher level, scientists are in a fierce competition to maintain and

increase public support and funding, and they oblige and numb their critical

sensitivities to do so. The net effect is that hype and hope have become

common.

" The maxim " paper does not refuse ink " does not absolve scientists of their

responsibility to present facts in a balanced and reasonable way.

Many do so, but usually only to their colleagues. In private, few scientists

would attempt to extrapolate from a possible drug target to a cure, whereas,

like Houdini, they escape from this straightjacket towards the end of a

paper or a grant application.

This hypocrisy not only devalues the manuscript or application and the

authors, but it also inevitably leads to increasing cynicism among readers,

including the public and those funding research. "

Full text on Nature.com http://bit.ly/muHf3M

All the best,

~ Karl

Patients Against Lymphoma

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