Nation in brief: Genome chief stepping down
Francis Collins, who for more than a decade has overseen virtually every major federal research initiative in the fast-paced field of genetic science, will step down as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health, effective Aug. 1.
Collins, 58, who took over the institute in 1993 and guided the massive Human Genome Project to completion in 2003, said he has a book project in mind but no other immediate plans.
Collins said he will write a book about the nascent revolution in personal genomics, which promises to bring individualized medical treatments but has also given rise to a largely unregulated market in genetic tests of questionable usefulness. NIH sources said it would be impossible for Collins to speak his mind in such a book while serving as institute director. (A book he wrote in 2006 about his life as a scientist and born-again Christian was deemed by government ethics officials to be enough afield of his duties to be publishable while he remained at NIH.)
McLean, Va.
Woman pleads guilty in spy case
A Chinese national living in New Orleans pleaded guilty Wednesday to aiding and abetting a spy for the People’s Republic of China in obtaining classified information about U.S.-Taiwanese military relations.
As part of a plea bargain, Yu Xin Kang, 33, avoided a more serious espionage charge that could have carried a sentence of life in prison.
Kang, who held permanent resident status in the U.S., was accused of acting as a go-between for spy Tai Shen Kuo and Chinese agents.
The information Kuo obtained from former defense department analyst Gregg W. Bergersen included updates on Taiwan’s new Po Sheng or “Broad Victory” air defense system.
Washington
Lieberman to speak to Hagee group
Sen. Joe Lieberman said Wednesday he will address a conference hosted by the Rev. John Hagee, who was spurned by Republican John McCain for his claim that God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land.
“I believe that Pastor Hagee has made comments that are deeply unacceptable and hurtful,” Lieberman, I-Conn., said in a statement. “I also believe that a person should be judged on the entire span of his or her life’s works. Pastor Hagee has devoted much of his life to fighting anti-Semitism and building bridges between Christians and Jews.”
Lieberman is one of the strongest supporters of likely GOP presidential nominee McCain. He also has been mentioned as a possible running mate.
Lieberman plans to appear at Hagee’s “Christians United for Israel” summit in Washington.