[IRTalk] Sloppy science creates worthless cures and wastes billions, says author

[Ina Smith]

In a country where researchers are rewarded to publish as much possible, as soon possible, in order to increase the research income for the university/institution - aren't we rewarding the wrong behavior?

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-24-2017-1.4127815/sloppy-science-creates-worthless-cures-and-wastes-billions-says-author-1.4127821


Biomedical research is big business. In the U.S. alone, taxpayers spend more than $30 billion a year to fund it. That money goes into finding treatments and potential cures for diseases like cancer, diabetes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

But in his new book, Rigor Mortis: How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope and Wastes Billions, science correspondent Richard Harris<http://www.npr.org/people/2100631/richard-harris> says the biomedical system is seriously flawed and that it often rewards the wrong behaviours.

"It's a result of this funding crunch where they have to do something to keep their grants flowing," Harris tells The Current's guest host Duncan McCue.

Ina Smith
Project Manager: African Open Science Platform<http://africanopenscience.org.za/>
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
DOAJ Ambassador, Southern Africa Region
LIASA Librarian of the Year 2016

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