Daily Debriefing
Universities rarely report their researchers' financial conflicts of interest to the government as is required for government-funded research, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report issued on Thursday. The report found that universities that do report research conflicts often do not take steps to minimize or eliminate them, and 90 percent of universities rely exclusively on researchers to self-report any potential conflicts. Federal regulations require universities to report and work to minimize any identified conflicts to ensure the objectivity and value of the research. Although hundreds of universities receive research funding from the National Institutes of Health, only 41 reported researchers' financial conflicts. The report is leading some officials to question universities' ability to monitor their researchers themselves, The New York Times reported.
New Hampshire will offer expanded H1N1 vaccination clinics for all children aged six months to five years and people between the ages of 18 and 24 with chronic health conditions, the Concord Monitor reported on Thursday. These groups are at higher risk for complications if they contract H1N1. Populations already permitted to receive the vaccine include pregnant women, health care providers and chronically ill children. The vaccine will be free for all at-risk groups, according to the Monitor. The second New Hampshire death as a result of H1N1 was confirmed this fall. The state public health director has asked individuals not in a high-risk group to be patient, saying that if this next round of vaccinations goes as planned, the general public should have access to the vaccine soon, the Monitor reported.
For the eighth year in a row, the University of Southern California had the highest number of international students of any university in the country, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday. USC has 7,482 enrolled international students, while New York University has the second most, with 6,761. Columbia University was ranked third, with 6,685 international students. Overall, California, New York and Texas had the most international students, the LA Times reported. India, China, South Korea, Canada and Japan sent the most students to the United States.
