BAD BLOOD is a killer. New Scientist recently outlined the dangers of transfusion-related acute lung injury (28 September 2002, p 6). TRALI is a rare but life-threatening condition that can result in acute respiratory failure within 4 hours of a transfusion. It is usually caused by a reaction to antibodies in the donor鈥檚 blood, which often turns out to have come from women who have had multiple births or people who have received blood from them. I asked Hazel Blears, the public health minister, what her department is doing about TRALI.
Blears said that out of 315 cases of transfusion-related problems reported during 2000/01, only 15 were cases of TRALI. During that year more than 3 million blood transfusions were carried out in British hospitals. Nonetheless, the National Blood Service (NBS) has set up a project board to assess ways of reducing TRALI. It is analysing the various options in close cooperation with the Department of 91色情片鈥檚 economic and operational research group.
As a precaution against vCJD, the department has decided that fresh frozen plasma for children born after 1 January 1996 should come only from the US. The wish to have plasma from untransfused male donors is included in the specification. The NBS is also examining whether plasma used to suspend pooled platelets could be derived from untransfused male donors. And it is considering whether antibody screening could be applied to the specialised apheresis service, where the donor is attached directly to a system separating the blood into its component parts at the time of donation. Often, this is the best source of blood products for patients with bleeding disorders from leukaemia, cancer therapy or open heart surgery.
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SUSAN GREENFIELD, professor of pharmacology at the University of Oxford, recently claimed that on the whole scientists do not achieve tenure until their mid-30s, which for women is beyond the ideal age for beginning a family (New Scientist, 30 November 2002, p 23). If a woman leaves to have a baby it can be very difficult for her to return. Research scientists who fail to publish papers due to maternity leave are unlikely to receive a grant on return to work. I asked Patricia Hewitt for her view on this dilemma for women trying to make a career in science. She is not only the Cabinet Secretary responsible for science, but also Minster for Women.
Hewitt replied that in the government鈥檚 recent spending review settlement, it was decided that funding for the Royal Society over the next three years would increase from 拢29 million to 拢34 million. Some of the increase is likely to go to boost women in science fellowships. The Royal Society is now considering what other schemes might be worth pursuing, such as a new relocation fellowship scheme. This will help excellent scientists to move to a new post if their spouse or partner has to move their workplace beyond a reasonable commuting distance. The additional funding will also enable the Royal Society to increase its number of Dorothy Hodgkin fellowships. This scheme is aimed at young postdoctoral scientists and is open to both male and female researchers. So far, though, 80 per cent of applicants have been women, Hewitt said.
I have high hopes for the Rosalind Franklin Award, announced in January, which is to be made to an individual for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering or technology. One of its aims is to increase the participation of women.
