T H E I N D E P E N D E N T D A I LY AT D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y
The Chronicle
XXXDAY, MONTH THURSDAY, JUNE 20, XX, 2013 2013
ONE ONEHUNDRED HUNDREDAND ANDEIGHTH EIGHTHYEAR, YEAR,ISSUE ISSUE56 X
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
Gene patent Med. Pavilion ready for move-in ruling irks some experts by Julian Spector THE CHRONICLE
Duke responds to Supreme Court decision by Georgia Parke THE CHRONICLE
Duke professors and alumni have expressed mixed reactions about the recent Supreme Court decision to outlaw natural genome patenting. In the midst of a session concerning various controversial topics including affirmative action and same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics that it is not lawful to patent naturally occurring human genomes, even if they are engineered to be isolated. Myriad, a molecular diagnostic company, patented the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 after isolating them several years ago. The genes have been linked to a higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Because Myriad did not change or create the genes isolated, it is not eligible to claim a patent on BRCA1 and BRCA2. The Court ruled that artificial versions of the genes, however, are eligible for patenting. Misha Angrist, assistant professor of the practice at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, agreed with the ruling to an extent. He said that while access to screening will now be made widely available by striking down the ruling, a better ruling would have outlawed patenting artificial versions of existing molecules. “If I consult my imagination and make up a sequence that doesn’t exist in nature, I would say yes, you should be able to patent that,” Angrist said. “But if I take an existing molecule and I reverse engineered it—I simply make the DNA equivalent of that RNA molecule— you could technically say that doesn’t exist in nature. I would say, maybe not, but you didn’t invent it either.” There is an added complexity to the ruling when taking into account the legality of artificial genes, noted Shamoor Anis, Law ’13. He added that the Court states that even two genes carrying the exact same information that exist only when isolated must be treated differently. “The cDNA—which holds the same information as the isolated DNA, but SEE PATENT ON PAGE 3
Tripucka makes professional debut. Page 4
JULIAN SPECTOR/THE CHRONICLE
After three and a half years and nearly $600 million, Duke Hospital’s glass-walled Medical Pavilion opened its doors to the public this weekend. The building opens for patients July 29, but visitors young and old toured the facility Saturday, wandering through art-lined hallways to view state-of-the-art medical units. The pavilion will introduce new medical technologies and expand the patient capacity of the hospital. With more patients seeking treatment in the Medical Pavilion, Duke North’s operating rooms will be able to undergo incremental renovations. “To be successful long term we need to create the right space [where] people can work together and succeed,” said Victor Dzau, chancellor for health affairs and president and CEO of the Duke University Health System. “Now we have a wonderful place, and a very uplifting environment to work with.” The pavilion adds 44 pre-operation bays and 18 operation rooms to Duke North’s 69 pre-op bays and 37 operating rooms, said Duchess Diard, clinical operations director for the Peri-Anesthesia Care Unit. The new units are generally bigger and have more advanced technology than the older facility. For example, a patient lying in the new pre-op bays will have their vitals monitored and connected to the nurse’s phone, so the nurse can respond quickly if there are any sudden changes.
The Duke Medical Pavilion will open to the public on July 29. SEE PAVILION ON PAGE 3
West Union renovations still halted by Carleigh Stiehm THE CHRONICLE
In their meeting Friday, the executive committee of the Board of Trustees did not have an opportunity to advance the West Union renovations, which were halted by the Board in May. Comprising 12 of the Board’s 36 members, the executive committee—which can exercise all powers of the Board—convenes at points between the Board’s four annual meetings. The impending renovations to West Union were among the topics discussed, although no decisions were made to move forward with the renovations, Michael Schoenfeld, vice president of public affairs and government relations, wrote in an email Sunday. In a previous interview with The Chronicle, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta noted that the executive committee had the ability to sign off on various aspects of the renovations in order to allow work to begin on the building before the Board saw the revised
plans at its October meeting. This weekend’s meeting, however, did not yield such a result. “The executive committee covered a number of routine administrative and personnel matters, reviewed planning for upcoming board meetings and committees, and was updated on major initiatives, like online education, innovation and entrepreneurship and campus construction, including West Union,” Schoenfeld said. “The architects will be reviewing their new plans with the administration soon so no decisions were made.” At the Trustees’ May 14 meeting, they chose not to approve the final plans for the renovations of West Union. The remodel—funded by an $80 million donation from the Charlotte-based Duke Endowment—was originally scheduled to begin this summer, and organizations began to move their offices out of the building in early May. But because the Board did not agree on the designs, construction has been postponed.
ONTHERECORD
“Make your public online persona one of which your grandparents would approve.” —Joline Doedens in “Orwellian specters” See column page 7
The official summary of actions taken at the executive committee meeting did not include any mention of the West Union renovations. Current Board Chair Rick Wagoner, Trinity ’75, and incoming chair David Rubenstein, Trinity ’70, deferred comment to Schoenfeld. In other business The executive committee also approved appointments to the DUHS board of directors, the submission of the certificate of need and approval of funding for the Duke North Hospital renovation and a resolution of tribute to Coach John Danowski and the men’s lacrosse team. President Richard Brodhead and Provost Peter Lange provided the updates at the meeting, Schoenfeld said. The committee also received updates on key initiatives, reviewed results of board performance in 2012-2013 and discussed strategic issues related to the health system.
Q&A with Doctor Jeffrey Lawson, Page 2