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Moonshot Science-Risks and Benefits
Arturo Casadevall1, Ferric C Fang2
1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA acasade1@jhu.edu.
Abstract:
Ever since the successful Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, a "moonshot" has come to signify a bold effort to achieve a seemingly impossible task. The Obama administration recently called for a moonshot to cure cancer, an initiative that has elicited mixed responses from researchers who welcome additional funding but worry about raising expectations. We suggest that a successful moonshot requires a sufficient understanding of the basic science underlying a problem in question so that efforts can be focused on engineering a solution. Current gaps in our basic knowledge of cancer biology make the cancer moonshot a uniquely challenging endeavor. Nevertheless, history has shown that intensive research efforts have frequently yielded conceptual and technological breakthroughs with unanticipated benefits for society. We expect that this effort will be no different.
Insights
A cancer moonshot requires deep basic science understanding for engineering solutions. While challenging due to knowledge gaps, such intensive research efforts historically yield breakthroughs with societal benefits.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- The concept of a "moonshot" signifies ambitious goals, exemplified by the Apollo 11 mission.
- Recent calls for a "cancer moonshot" aim to accelerate progress in cancer research and treatment.
- This initiative has generated diverse reactions within the scientific community, balancing enthusiasm for funding with concerns about over-promising.
Discussion:
- A successful "moonshot" necessitates a robust foundation in basic science to effectively engineer solutions.
- Significant gaps in fundamental cancer biology knowledge present unique challenges for the cancer moonshot.
- The complexity of cancer requires a deep understanding of its underlying mechanisms before engineering targeted solutions.
Key Insights:
- The "moonshot" approach to cancer is ambitious but faces hurdles due to incomplete basic science understanding.
- Bridging knowledge gaps in cancer biology is crucial for developing effective engineering strategies.
- The success of a "moonshot" hinges on translating fundamental scientific discoveries into practical applications.
Outlook:
- Intensive research endeavors, like the proposed cancer moonshot, have a history of driving innovation.
- Anticipated outcomes include conceptual and technological breakthroughs with broad societal impact.
- Despite challenges, the cancer moonshot is expected to yield significant advancements, mirroring historical research successes.
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