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Fundamentals of epidemiology - an evolving text - Are you looking ...

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Challenges in the environment for <strong>epidemiology</strong><br />

Rising expectations <strong>of</strong> what <strong>epidemiology</strong> c<strong>an</strong> do <strong>an</strong>d how quickly – the public (<strong>an</strong>d<br />

sponsors) w<strong>an</strong>ts not just leads, but <strong>an</strong>swers.<br />

Media interest <strong>an</strong>d publicity – too much <strong>an</strong>d too soon? (abetted by marketing imperatives<br />

<strong>an</strong>d fund-raising).<br />

Link between academic <strong>epidemiology</strong> <strong>an</strong>d public health practice has weakened – academic<br />

<strong>epidemiology</strong> has its own perspectives <strong>an</strong>d objectives – Milton Terris argues that the rise <strong>of</strong><br />

academic <strong>epidemiology</strong> has led to <strong>an</strong> overemphasis on statistics, <strong>an</strong>alysis, <strong>an</strong>d hypothesis<br />

tests at the expense <strong>of</strong> biological thinking <strong>an</strong>d hypothesis creation.<br />

Universities increasingly dependent upon research project funding. → Not "funding for<br />

what?", but "what for funding?": The ivory tower → The ivy-covered corporate tower?<br />

Competing priorities for public funds<br />

All sponsors are <strong>looking</strong> for marketable results, impact<br />

What sets priorities for research funding<br />

Public health policy process (Objectives for the Nation)<br />

New, exp<strong>an</strong>ding, <strong>an</strong>d feared diseases (HIV, TB, Alzheimer's disease)<br />

Increased recognition for existing problems (injury, teen pregn<strong>an</strong>cy)<br />

Political process (c<strong>an</strong>cer, HIV, minority health, women's health, aging)<br />

"Academic-Industrial Complex" (cf. Eisenhower's warning about the Military-<br />

Industrial Complex)<br />

Peer review, peer influence<br />

Research institutions<br />

Drug industry sponsorships <strong>of</strong> research, conferences, publications<br />

Insur<strong>an</strong>ce industry<br />

Corporate health care<br />

Americ<strong>an</strong> Medical Association – political contributions <strong>an</strong>d lobbying<br />

Limits on funding<br />

Era <strong>of</strong> limits<br />

Costs are rising - inflation, technology, expectations, quality, Big Science<br />

More investigators, more institutions<br />

_____________________________________________________________________________________________<br />

www.sph.unc.edu/courses/EPID168, © Victor J. Schoenbach 1999 18. Overview <strong>an</strong>d Conclusion - 568<br />

rev. 11/8/1998, 10/23/1999, 10/28/1999

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