During my discussion with Lars this week, we discussed the severity of this year’s flu season. I explained that the CDC monitors "ILIs" -- Influenza-Like Illnesses -- rather than trying to distinguish between flu and other virus infection unless lab tests confirm it. This season is particularly bad — the worst since 2009 — and hospitals are seeing a surge of cases. Lars shared his experience with the flu, noting that it knocked him flat for days, even forcing him to take time off work. We spoke of Tamiflu, which, while not a cure, shortens the duration of symptoms.
We shifted to a different concern, the “indirect” overhead fees universities charge on NIH grants. Lars was outraged that some institutions take 30% to 60% of these research funds for "administrative costs" while the Gates Foundation caps overhead at 10%. I pointed out that certain research facilities require significantly greater investment, especially those with high-level biosecurity labs and advanced equipment. However, some institutions seem to impose inexplicably high overhead.
Here is our entire conversation.
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Henry I. Miller, MS, MD
Henry I. Miller, MS, MD, is the Glenn Swogger Distinguished Fellow at the American Council on Science and Health. His research focuses on public policy toward science, technology, and medicine, encompassing a number of areas, including pharmaceutical development, genetic engineering, models for regulatory reform, precision medicine, and the emergence of new viral diseases. Dr. Miller served for fifteen years at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a number of posts, including as the founding director of the Office of Biotechnology.
