27 October 1995 Visiting Scientist Urges Caution In Transfer Of Experimental Findings

The jump from success in animal studies to the assumption that the same findings apply in humans is often made too rapidly, says visiting Israeli scientist Professor Yehudith Birk who will deliver Lincoln University's 1995 Prestige Lecture on Tuesday night, 31 October.

A biochemist who holds the Karl Bach Chair of Agricultural Biochemistry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Professor Birk says the relevance and irrelevance of animal studies needs closer consideration.

"Especially with emotive matters such as human cancer it is wrong to make hasty leaps and assumptions about causes and effects. But at the same time the need for caution should not hold us back from investigating all avenues of possible relevance."

Professor Birk's own work has been with particular proteins in legumes such as soya beans and chick peas which in an uncooked state do not break down efficiently in the digestive tract.

"What is their function, we ask? And the question becomes particularly interesting when we find through animal studies that these 'proteinase inhibitors' as they're called, might have some anti-carcinogenic properties.

"But human studies are only just beginning so we mustn't jump to any rapid conclusions. After all there is clear evidence of molecular differences between 'animals' and 'humans' and that's where scientists and university academics, working independently and freely of commercial interests, have a great responsibility to pursue a full range of studies before presenting anything new to the public."

Professor Birk's lecture is entitled "Proteinase inhibitors of legume seeds and their possible role in the suppression (or prevention) of cancer and in plant protection". It will be delivered in Lincoln University's Stewart 1 Lecture Theatre at 5.30pm on Tuesday 31 October and members of the public are invited. Admission is free.

A programme of annual Prestige Lectures was introduced by Lincoln in 1990 to mark the institution's elevation to autonomous university status.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.