Biomedical Advances and the Future of Human Health

An innovative introduction to the scientific basis of modern medicine and the role of biological science in the understanding and treatment of disease

Assuming a basic knowledge of biology, the book looks at how the drug industry works to develop drugs, the role of basic science, how treatments are evaluated, and the ethics and the role of the media and political pressures. It is divided into three parts: Part I looks at the historical aspects from the 19th to the 21st century with topics ranging from the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 through to the emergence of medical genetics and evidence based medicine. Part II covers the 'new diseases' such as obesity, depression and antibiotic resistance. Part III examines the relationship between medicine, politics and the media covering conflicts of interest in the pharmaceutical industry, the rationing of health care and the MMR vaccine controversy.

By placing biological advances in the context of medical and drug developments this book gives a wide range of students a lively overview of what biological sciences can contribute to improvements in human health.