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To what extent do international organizations, global policy networks, and transnational policy entrepreneurs influence domestic policy makers? Have we entered a new phase of globalization that, unbeknownst to most citizens, shapes policies that used to be the sole domain of domestic politics?Privatizing Pensionsreveals how international institutions--such as the World Bank, USAID, and other transnational policy actors--have played a seminal role in the development, diffusion, and implementation of new pension reforms that are transforming the postwar social contract in more than thirty countries worldwide, including the United States. Mitchell Orenstein shows how transnational actors have driven change in a policy area once thought to be beyond reform in many countries, and how they have done so by deploying their unique resources and legitimacy to promote new ideas, recruit disciples worldwide, and provide a broad range of technical assistance to government reformers over the long term. He demonstrates that while domestic decision makers may retain veto power over these reforms--which replace traditional social security with individual pension savings accounts--transnational policy makers play the role of \"proposal actors,\" shaping the information, preferences, and resources of their domestic clients. Privatizing Pensionsargues that even the most quintessentially domestic areas of policy have been thoroughly globalized, and that these international influences must be better understood.

Background Cancer patients incur high care costs; however, there is a paucity of literature characterizing unmet financial obligations for patients with urologic cancers. Kidney cancer patients are particularly burdened by costs associated with novel systemic treatments. This study aimed to ascertain the characteristics of GoFundMe® crowdfunding campaigns for patients with kidney cancer, in order to better understand the financial needs of this population. Methods We performed a cross‐sectional, quantitative, and qualitative analysis of all kidney cancer GoFundMe® campaigns since 2010. Fundraising metrics such as goal funds and amount raised, were extracted. Eight independent investigators collected patient, disease and campaign‐level variables from campaign stories (κ = 0.72). In addition, we performed a content analysis of campaign narratives spotlighting the primary appeal of the patient's life story. Results A total of 486 GoFundMe® kidney cancer campaigns were reviewed. The median goal funds were 10,000USD [IQR = 5000, 20,000] and the median amount raised was 1450USD [IQR = 578, 4050]. Most campaigns were for adult males (53%) and 62% of adults had children. A minority were for pediatric patients (17%). Thirty‐seven percent of adult patients were primary wage earners and 43% reported losing their job or substantially reducing hours due to illness. Twenty‐nine percent reported no insurance or insufficient coverage. Campaigns most frequently sought funds for medical bills (60%), nonmedical bills (27%), and medical travel (23%). Qualitative campaign narratives mostly emphasized patients’ hardship (46.3%) or high moral character (35.2%). Only 8% of campaigns achieved their target funds. Conclusions Despite fundraising efforts, patients with kidney cancer face persistent financial barriers, incurring both medical and nonmedical cost burdens. This may be compounded by limited or no insurance. Cancer care providers should be aware of financial constraints placed on kidney cancer patients, and consider how these may impact treatment regimens. This work spotlights online crowdfunding campaigns for patients with kidney cancer. By elucidating patient and campaign characteristics, we are able to better understand the financial needs of this population.

Lack of financial and human capital continues to hinder the development of successful biotechnology hubs. Venture philanthropy could be an important part of the solution.Lack of financial and human capital continues to hinder the development of successful biotechnology hubs. Venture philanthropy could be an important part of the solution.

Fiennes calls for a science of philanthropy to assess the effectiveness of donors and funders engaged in charitable giving. Establishing the effectiveness of a donor is not straightforward. After all, donors have diverse goals, from funding basic research to testing interventions, providing services or promoting social policies. Nonetheless, donors could log the goal of their grant and track whether these goals were met would be a big step forward.

The COVID‐19 outbreak has affected cancer research and cancer care. European cancer charities need to reconsider strategies for safeguarding income and supporting cancer researchers, in times when sustaining cancer research funding is more crucial than ever.

Structural funds absorption by the member states can be seen within a wider context of the absorption capacity as it is described and analyzed both worldwide and in Europe. This study reveals the different approaches of the absorption capacity by presenting the architecture of funds administration from the perspective of the international aid and from the perspective of the European policy of convergence. Within the context in which most European Union member states experienced difficulties in EU structural funds absorption during their early years after accession, the paper shows the essential operational coordinates of the capacity of absorption, the hierarchical levels of operation (European and national), as well as the factors and mechanisms for the specific implementation of the funds that have been granted. The identified elements were integrated and the EU model of structural funds implementation was generated, showing a diversified pattern of action within the administrative systems of the member states. The perspectives of the structural funds absorption capacity focus on two fundamental aspects of the convergence policy: to identify the modalities by which the allotted funds are absorbed to the long-term general interest of the Europeans and to avoid associating them within to constraining vision of absorption specific to the international aid. The conclusions of the paper discuss the future research approaches into the stage of structural funds absorption by the new EU member states and into the possible existence of a “saturation point” in the absorption of these funds, phenomenon already observed in other states benefiting of international aid.

Uncertain government funding drives effort to beef up private support for research.

Pulmonary fibrosis encompasses a group of lung-scarring disorders that occur owing to known or unknown insults and accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. Despite intense investigation spanning decades, much remains to be learned about the natural history, pathophysiology, and biologic mechanisms of disease. To identify the most pressing research needs in the lung fibrosis community and to provide a roadmap of priorities to investigators, funding agencies, patient advocacy groups, and other interested stakeholders. An ad hoc international working group of the American Thoracic Society with experience in clinical, translational, and bench-based research in fibrotic lung diseases was convened. The group used an iterative consensus process to identify successes and challenges in pulmonary fibrosis research. The group identified five main priority areas in which substantial resources should be invested to advance our understanding and to develop novel therapies for patients with pulmonary fibrosis. These priorities include develop newer models of human lung fibrosis, engage current and new stakeholders to provide sustained funding for the initiatives, create a global infrastructure for storing patient-derived materials, establish collaborative preclinical and clinical research networks in fibrotic lung disease, and create a global lung fibrosis initiative that unites these multifaceted efforts into a single virtual umbrella structure. Despite recent advances in the treatment of some forms of lung fibrosis, many gaps in knowledge about natural history, pathophysiology, and treatment remain. Investment in the research priorities enumerated above will help address these shortcomings and enhance patient care worldwide.

For the past decade, venture philanthropists have been working to propel promising therapies and vaccines into the clinic, with some success.