CORRESPONDENCE NATURE|Vol 448|19 July 2007

Race: talented minorities minority students and faculty are to be asked by the faculty chair to review the case successful, there is an urgent need for before the decision was announced? face a ‘revolving door’ universities to re-evaluate and redesign James Sherley their policies that control retention of Department of Biological Engineering, SIR — Your News story ‘Researcher refuses ethnic minorities on their faculty. Biotechnology Process Engineering Center, to back down over race case’ (Nature 447, Ben Barres Center for Environmental Health Sciences, 762–763; 2007) calls attention to the Department of Neurobiology, Center for Cancer Research, courageous stand taken by James Sherley, Stanford University School of Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA an assistant professor at Massachusetts Fairchild Room D235, 299 Campus Drive, Institute of Technology (MIT) who believes Stanford, California 94305-5125, USA that he was denied tenure because of racial discrimination. Foundation active in fight Remarkably, although there has long to cure Huntington’s been a high percentage of African-American Race and tenure case was students at leading US universities — 10% not handled fairly by MIT SIR — Your News Feature on biomedical of incoming undergraduates at MIT, for philanthropy ‘Love or money’ (Nature 447, example — very few have so far made it SIR — Although tenure evaluations are not 252–253; 2007) states that that the High Q through to tenure. Only about 1% of biology primarily accountings of publications, you Foundation is a successor to the Hereditary professors at US universities are African- reported in your News story ‘Researcher Disease Foundation (www.hdfoundation. Americans. Although one-third of assistant refuses to back down over race case’ (Nature org). You also state that CHDI is a successor professors overall may make it to tenure at 447, 762–763; 2007) that I published six to the Cure Huntington’s Disease Initiative MIT, hardly any African-American assistant peer-reviewed research papers during of the Hereditary Disease Foundation. professors have ever done so in MIT’s core the years before the decision taken by The word ‘successor’ could give readers disciplines of science and engineering. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology the false impression that the Hereditary same seems to be true at most leading US (MIT) about my tenure. Disease Foundation either no longer exists universities, leading to what has been termed My years as a principal investigator before or is no longer active. This is incorrect. The a ‘revolving door’ for even very talented MIT’s decision include research at the Fox Hereditary Disease Foundation, since its young African-American scientists such as Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. MIT’s inception in 1968, has vigorously encouraged Sherley, who last year won a National tenure decision should have been based on and respectfully supported researchers Institutes of Health Pioneer award for my comprehensive work as a principal seeking to find treatments and cures for innovative work. investigator, not limited only to time at MIT. Huntington’s disease as rapidly as possible How can it be that white and black The MIT faculty personnel record submitted and continues to do so. scientists who initially seem equally talented for my tenure evaluation listed 41 scholarly Nancy Wexler*†, Carl Johnson† have such different chances of making it to articles published, in press, or accepted for *Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, tenure? I would argue that it is because publication, including 11 peer-reviewed Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 6, present tenure policies are unintentionally primary-research articles, two peer-reviewed PI Annex 371, New York, New York 10032, USA designed to prevent the success of even the review articles, five peer-reviewed †Hereditary Disease Foundation, 3960 Broadway, most talented minority scientists. proceedings papers and four book chapters 6th Floor, New York, New York 10032, USA At places like MIT, only a fraction of (two peer-reviewed). Not included in this faculty make it, even if they’re white. In the total are four research manuscripts submitted face of pervasive racial barriers, how can to peer-reviewed journals and 10 published talented minorities have a fair chance in such patent applications. Friendly clarification from a steeply competitive timed-tenure system? Your comparison of my tenure application City of Brotherly Love These barriers can include lack of equal space with those of two other faculty awarded and resources, lack of mentoring by senior tenure at the same time is not a fair SIR — I thoroughly enjoy Nature’s insightful faculty, lack of inclusion in faculty activities comparison, because people who arrive at columns and News and Views, and of course such as invitations to speak in seminar series, an institution mid-career are not comparable take a special satisfaction when researchers a general lack of recognition and support, to those who began their faculty careers at from my institution, the University of and a hesitancy among white students to join the institution at which they later apply for Pennsylvania (or U Penn) are featured. the labs of minority faculty or to be referred tenure. Their research programmes are at a However, in a sidebar ‘Body and mind’ within to minority labs by senior faculty. different stage of maturity, and often the the News Feature ‘Brain craze’ (Nature 447, In the face of so many obstacles, how is it projects undertaken differ significantly in 18–20; 2007), a researcher is reported to work fair to argue that Sherley does not deserve degree of challenge and impact. Even so, at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) tenure because he didn’t publish quite as another mid-career faculty member received in Philadelphia. There have been occasional many papers as white assistant professors MIT tenure within the same timeframe as other instances in your pages of confusion who did not face any of these barriers? my application, largely on the basis of over Pennsylvania and its universities. Although the MIT faculty and administrators contributions that had been made before Neither Penn State nor the University of who have considered his tenure application arrival there. Pittsburgh (Pitt) is in Philadelphia, the state’s are for the most part well-meaning, they My main complaint against MIT is the largest city, located in its southeastern corner. seem to be unaware of the reality of persisting manner in which my case was decided by the U Penn is a private university in the city, racial barriers. They unfairly prefer to faculty chair. For example, at MIT, when a founded by its most famous citizen, attribute lack of success to inability. tenure-case decision is being made, review of Benjamin Franklin. In a survey of MIT students in 1985, it the case is prohibited outside its department. Penn State is the state’s (and maybe the was found that African-Americans have If the case is not advanced to the next level of country’s) largest public university, and it has surprisingly few meaningful faculty contacts, review, it is sealed. So why was a professor many campuses, the main one located in most of those being with the tiny percentage who is neither a member of my faculty nor University Park, Pennsylvania. The legend is of the faculty who are ethnic minorities. If an expert in my field — stem-cell biology — that the location of the university was chosen

250 NATURE|Vol 448|19 July 2007 CORRESPONDENCE by drawing a large ‘X’ from the four corners make us what we are. We are enabled in agendas. The UNAIDS Secretariat and the of the state and placing the university at the this occupation by the silent consensus, World Health Organization work closely with centre of it — in order to make it equally and hope, of people all over the world. We other technical partner organizations to assist accessible to all students. abuse that consensus at our peril. countries in better understanding their HIV The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a L. Bergmeier epidemics so they can respond appropriately. public university that resides, as one might University of London, London, UK Estimations are produced in close have guessed, in Pittsburgh, the second collaboration with national epidemiologists largest city in Pennsylvania and at the western and governments, using methodologies edge of the state. recommended by an international team of Douglas J. Jerolmack Animal welfare: reporting experts chaired by a leading academic from Department of Earth and Environmental Science, details is good science Imperial College London. University of Pennsylvania, Hayden Hall, UNAIDS is committed to providing the 240 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, SIR — C. Jimenez, in Correspondence, most accurate information available and Pennsylvania 19104, USA considers that detailed information on the continues to be transparent in publicizing the way animals are handled and treated should methods used to assess the magnitude of the not be placed in published papers (Nature past and current epidemics. UNAIDS has 447, 259; 2007). always stated that countries should use the Animal welfare is not just I disagree, because it is a fundamental most comprehensive and most recent data another bureaucratic hoop principle of the scientific process that when available. Reassessments of earlier published a paper is published, the study can be estimates of prevalence, incidence and SIR — I disagree with C. Jimenez’s reply, repeated from the description given in mortality have been made, and we expect in Correspondence, opposing Victoria the methods, thereby allowing external that there may be adjustments in the future. Buck’s suggestion of making animal-welfare validity to be assessed. To this end, variables Helen Epstein’s The Invisible Cure also sections in scientific papers compulsory that might affect the results need to be makes inaccurate statements about the work (‘Animal-welfare section in papers would be reported accurately. of UNAIDS: in particular, we have always a burden’ Nature 447, 259; 2007). We all have It is well-documented that making advocated the reduction of number of sexual a great many bureaucratic hoops to jump even a slight change to a laboratory animal’s partners as an effective strategy for HIV through these days, but we should not take a environment or husbandry can have prevention, as can be seen from our reports dismissive attitude to animal-welfare issues. profound influences on its biological and other contributions to the published Animal-rights extremists have made life functioning. Cage size can influence record. All UNAIDS documents on the a misery for some scientists in the United metabolism, baseline rectal temperature, prevention of sexual transmission of HIV Kingdom, despite our having one of the the fever response, feeding behaviour advocate abstinence, reduction of sexual best-regulated licensing and ethical review and behavioural responses in predator–prey partners and correct use of male and/or processes in the world. National legislation interactions. The type of flooring in a cage female condoms. (See, for example, http:// requires scientists wishing to carry out can affect blood pressure, heart rate and data.unaids.org/Global-Reports/Bangkok- experiments on animals to be licensed, and body temperature. Other factors that 2004/UNAIDS_Bangkok_press/GAR2004_ strict enforcement by both the legislature and influence physiology and behaviour pdf/GAR2004_ExecSumm_en.pdf) by the local ethical review committees include housing laboratory mice as UNAIDS and its partners will continue ensures that there are very few infringements. singletons or pairs, the complexity of their mission to gather the best-quality data The exchange between Buck and Jimenez the cage and the extent to which animals to assist in shaping an effective global did not address ethical approval statements, are handled. response to AIDS. but for the record I do not think it an Variables such as these, which might Paul R. De Lay*, Kevin M. De Cock† onerous task to include in scientific papers be changed to improve the welfare of the *Evidence, Monitoring and Policy, UNAIDS, a paragraph stating the legislation(s) and animals, should be reported in published 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland local ethical review process under which the papers as an essential component of the †HIV Department, World Health Organization, work had been approved. Many journals, accurate reporting of science. 19 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland including the Nature journals, already make C. M. Sherwin compliance a condition of publication (see University of Bristol, Bristol, UK www.nature.com/authors/editorial_policies/ experimental.html). Chinese recorded classical Although we must be robust in our nova two millennia ago defence of the need for appropriate animal UNAIDS rejects claims of experimentation, it is pointless to antagonize exaggeration and bias SIR — I agree with Michael M. Shara and those individuals who will never be colleagues (Nature 446, 159–162; 2007) persuaded of its need or relevance. The 3Rs SIR — We would like to provide our that the star Z Camelopardalis was a requirement goes some way to assuaging the perspective on your Book Review of two classical nova a few thousand years ago. disquiet of the more reasonable objectors, books criticizing the Joint United Nations In fact, a record of the eruption exists in and hence should not be dismissed. Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS), ‘Time for a Chinese documents of the time. There We live in a cynical world where change?’ (Nature 447, 531–532; 2007), and was, apparently, a report of a ‘guest star’ in everything is questioned, and the scientist the coverage of this issue at www.nature.com/ October–November 77 bc (P. Y. Ho Vistas is no longer seen as an ivory-tower figure. news/2007/070528/full/070528-6.html. Astron. 5, 127–225; 1962). The position in We are all accountable to the agencies that In his book The AIDS Pandemic: The the sky fits Z Camelopardalis. This seems fund us and regulate our use of experimental Collision of Epidemiology with Political to be the oldest classical nova recorded in animals and human tissue samples. Correctness, James Chin accuses UNAIDS of any surviving text. Our ability to pursue science gives us a exaggerating data for the sake of advocacy, Göran H. I. Johansson privilege that few others enjoy, that of which is not true. Nor are UNAIDS data Tordönsvägen 4G, 1tr, unravelling the biological processes that influenced by political or fundraising SE-22227 Lund, Sweden

251