ABSTRACT
It is the belief of this observer that serious damage was done to medical research in the seventies. This was due, not so much to a lack of research funds, but to a failure of the organizations funding medical research to respond properly to the lack of funds. Instead of opting for a strategy of damage-limitation, the organizations chose the simplistic strategy of “superelitism”. As research funds got progressively scarcer, the organizations responded reflexly by progressively increasing the cut-off line below which funds would not be given. This meant that proportionately fewer research programs were funded. However, programs which were rated highly received funds judged to be adequate to complete the work in a reasonable time. These programs progressed without delay. Other programs did not just slow down. The funds available were often so low that the programs were essentially brought to a halt.
