In Science this week my hero Francis Collins states his ultimate desires and has finally broken through by pushing the linking of the US governmental departments of National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. The director of NIEHS Dr David Schwartz PhD agrees that these two organizations have taken too long to speak. I view this combo like I do a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Chocolate and Peanut Butter, both great.....even better together!
Why? Despite all of the big companies out there designing the best drugs.....which may be taken once, twice or three times a day. We breath air 12 times a minute, drink/eat more than 5 times a day, shower, swim, wear clothes, inhale 2nd hand smoke, taste pesticides, use plastic, microwaves, radio waves, cell phones......You get the drift. The project is called the Genes, Environment, and Health Initiative, which already has a $40 million annual budget. Now not just the right drug for the right person and the right disease, but the right diet, the right water, the right exercise, the right environment! Imagine the relocation to avoid cancer, or to prevent diabetes. In all seriousness, this effort will take decades. But with Francis at the helm I am sure a milestone or two will be broken. After all the Human Genome Project finished 2 years early.....
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