Scientists are Rock Stars

Frank M. Longo, Stanford; Michael W. Weiner, UCSF; and Eric M. Reiman, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute with Reality TV star and Poison legend Bret Michaels

The latest issue of GQ is showing us the future of science with images like:

the classic rock band Heart beside Nobel laureates Elizabeth Blackburn and Phillip Sharp, equally decked out in rocker fashion. It’s one image from a 6-page spread of rock stars mingling with scientists in the men’s magazine with some 7 million readers, intended to help seal the growing gap between science and the public.

We see the point. And it is a good one. But we are seeing every day the value of interdisciplinary  study in medicine. But GQ – as usual – has missed the larger issue at hand. The reason we haven’t cured cancer, or AIDS, or the common cold is because we have yet to harness the truly creative minds who harbor no fear to our most pressing problems.

Interdisciplinary study is great in medicine but it always happens between scientists. And that is its fatal flaw – too much science to see what is actually going on.  Imagine if Bret Michaels, CC  De Ville, Rikki Rockett, and Bobby Dall of Poison brought their ample creative force to bear on issues like biomimicry for skin replacement in burn victims or reconstructive surgery … they have already started looking at this issue in 1988 in their song “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”

Though its been a while now

I can still feel so much pain

Like a knife that cuts you, the wound heals

But the scar it remains

Why aren’t they, and others, part of the dialogue?!  If we every wonder why we live in a world with so little progress on our biggest medical issues you now know the deal.

So the new season of American Idol is starting with judges Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson. After the season is over I suggest that they judge progress on new projects at CERN and the World Health Association just to get things, you know, moving.

That’s all for now guys.

Jed