- http://www.xconomy.com/national/2012/04/02/biotech-cant-duck-cost-effectiveness-anymore/?single_page=true
- http://www.xconomy.com/national/2012/06/11/ready-or-not-genomics-is-coming-to-a-hospital-near-you/?single_page=true
- http://www.xconomy.com/national/2012/07/02/whos-still-active-among-the-early-stage-biotech-vcs/?single_page=true
- http://www.xconomy.com/national/2012/12/31/the-fiscal-cliff-is-forcing-a-biomedical-day-of-reckoning/?single_page=true
Provide names of other journalists involved.
None
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
04/02/2012 06/11/2012 07/02/2012 12/31/2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
“Biotech Can’t Duck Cost-Effectiveness Anymore.” 04/02/12. This column is about how drug companies need to revamp their business models to make more affordable medicines. “Ready or Not, Genomics Is Coming to a Hospital Near You.” 06/11/12. This piece focused on the faster-than-expected adoption of certain genomic tests into real-world patient care. The story highlighted the exciting possibilities for personalized medicine, while reminding readers that our ability to interpret genomic data is still very limited. “Who’s Still Active Among Early-Stage Biotech VCs?” 07/02/12. This piece analyzed which venture firms are still actively investing in biomedical innovations, during a period of decline. “The Fiscal Cliff is Forcing a Biomedical Day of Reckoning.” 12/31/12. This column focused on how budget tightening at the National Institutes of Health is forcing a culture change in biomedical research. Scientists are being forced to think less about basic science and more about healthcare applications.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
The first column about cost-effectiveness cited a Social Security Advisory Board report, which offered data on healthcare finance trends, and multiple examples of my own prior reporting on Xconomy. The column about early-stage biotech venture financing relied on data supplied by the National Venture Capital Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers. At my request, they supplied spreadsheets that I was able to tailor to ask a specific question, about the number of investments venture firms were making in “early-stage” biotech startups. The data, presented in a table in the story, helped make the point about how few firms are left to invest in biomedical startups. The last column, on the impact of the fiscal cliff, cited congressional testimony by NIH director Francis Collins, on the potential fallout of an 8 percent budget cut. This analysis piece also leaned heavily on past reporting on Xconomy.
Explain types of human sources used.
These columns all made use of human sources who were selected for their expertise in the subject at hand. They included CEOs of biotech startups, venture capitalists, and biomedical researchers.
Results:
All of these columns sparked considerable discussion and thoughtful commentary among industry leaders on social media channels.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No corrections have been made, and there haven’t been any challenges to the accuracy of the columns.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day pressures of meeting deadlines that we don’t pause to think about the big picture of what’s happening, and how to place the day’s events in their proper context. So my advice is to allot time every week to stop and think about how today’s news fits into the long-term trends at work on your beat. While you’re thinking about what just happened, try to anticipate where things are headed. Readers will be greatly appreciative.