24.10.12
Citizen science
The idea of citizen science aiding cancer research is both inspiring and fraught with concerns.
Of course there are tasks in research which involve little expertise, and are simple yet time-consuming enough to be appropriate for the public to undertake.
And any move to speed up research, and additionally free up researchers time, could have significant implications for cancer treatment and survival rates.
Yet there are also considerable risks with allowing the public to take on a specially trained medical researcher’s task. The stakes here are extremely high, and it is difficult to see what controls could be put in place to ensure people are using the website in the right way.
It is the reason such work is carried out by professionals. Can the benefits of extra manpower be harnessed in a safe and effective way to push forward cancer research?
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