In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

INTRODUCTION GAETANO SALVATORE AND HOWARD K. SCHACHMAN In 1978 we spent several months together as scholars-in-residence at the Fogarty International Center. At that time the Stone House was not only the center for the scholars program, but it also served as our residence . We had time to talk science, but we also discussed the state of scientific research and its role in the world. The 1970s were a time of change; the climate of research that had favored close relationships between the European and American scientific communities was under strain as national governments turned inward on both sides of the Atlantic . Budgets for science were tightening because of inflation and demands on the resources available in the public and private sectors of national economies. We were—and still are—concerned over the apparent slow erosion of scientific ties and cooperation between the advanced scientific communities of the world. Travel funds for scientific exchanges had been reduced, collaborative agreements had become more difficult to finance, and structural, chauvinistic barriers had crept in. Administrative restrictions had been imposed by many countries. More and more collaborative relationships were forced into bilateral agreements between countries for political rather than for scientific reasons. We became convinced that it was appropriate to review some of the contributions to the area of biomedical research that grew out of the post—World War II climate of scientific collaboration at the international level. We felt that a conference devoted to international cooperation in biomedical research would emphasize its value and highlight the necessity of maintaining collaborative relationships across national boundaries through long- and short-term exchanges of research scientists. We particularly felt the importance of making younger scientists aware of the value, for their own careers, of experience in a cultural environment different from the one in which they had received their training. We therefore proposed to the Fogarty International Center a conference entitled "The Role and Significance of International Cooperation in the Biomedical Sciences." In order to stress some of the major accomplishments that arose from exchanges of scientists and the resulting flow of ideas in the biomedical sciences, we selected a few areas for discussion in the conference: biochemistry and biophysics, with special emphasis on protein chemistry ; genetics and molecular biology; and, finally, immunology and endosa G. Salvatore and H. K. Schackman · Introduction crinology, two fields where the scientific cooperation across national boundaries has traditionally been strong. Another session of the conference was devoted to the impact of major research institutes, such as the Carlsberg Laboratory, the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Medical Research Council Laboratory in Cambridge, and the Pasteur Institute. In developing the program of the conference and during discussions with fellow scholars, with colleagues, and with friends, we found that information about overall support for activities related to international scientific cooperation was scarce. Data about the level and number of scientists involved in long-term exchanges between countries were also inadequate. Therefore, two sessions of the conference were devoted to the analysis of the currently prevailing policies on problems of international cooperation in the biomedical sciences and on ways and means to strengthen it. The major findings of the conference are summarized in the short report that appears at the end of these proceedings. The report was discussed by all participants and approved in the final session of the conference. We hope that some of the excitement conveyed by the participating scientists and policymakers from all over the world will be shared by the readers of these proceedings. Perspectives in Biology andMedicine, 29, 3, Part 2 ¦ Spring 1986 \ S3 ...

pdf

Share