ASBMB President Jeremy Berg writes, in part, "Examples such as the development of imatinib are crucial in discussing the impact of biomedical research in our society, as they illustrate the ultimate effects of such research on people’s lives. They also illustrate the cumulative nature of such advances, as they involve concepts and tools developed by many scientists over many years or decades (often with different goals in mind) and the interactions between basic scientists, clinicians and the private sector in converting a set of discoveries into a tangible benefit for patients worldwide."

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology remains committed to voicing the concerns of our members to those on Capitol Hill. To this end, the ASBMB Public Affairs Advisory Committee has begun work on an ambitious plan to develop a sustainable biomedical research enterprise.

Find out what your colleagues are up to. And don't forget to email asbmbtoday@asbmb.org with your news.

Charles “Chuck” Sweeley Jr., who made major contributions to the fields of sphingolipids and mass spectrometry, died on Sept. 21 in Lansing, Mich., after a long battle with a rare form of bladder cancer. He was 82.