The Institute for Scientific Analysis (ISA) is pleased to report the award of a NIH Challenge Grant, September 2009. These grants stress innovation and are expected to have “a high impact in biomedical or behavioral science and /or public health”. Awarded to Dr. Kaye M. Fillmore, the spirit of the award fits well into the path-breaking and innovative research characterizing the ISA since 1968— a tradition exploring the very boundaries of drug and alcohol use.
Dr. Fillmore’s research brings to the institute’s honored tradition an epidemiological approach. She will investigate probable systematic error and other features of epidemiological research that can keep the research community from solidly concluding the validity of associations between alcohol use and disease incidence. The work will contribute to an evidentiary basis for clinical practice and international guidelines, and inform the general public. Left undetected and uncorrected, systematic error in these studies will substantially undermine the quality and accuracy of public health policy. This could lead to the potential dissemination of misleading information. The public health significance of this is not trivial, especially for common conditions such as heart diseases and cancer. This was highlighted recently by the 2007 World Health Organization’s expert committee on the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Noting Dr. Fillmore and colleagues work showing that past consensus regarding alcohol’s cardio-protective effect had been overstated, the committee revised their guidelines.
Dr Fillmore and colleagues utilize a cross-study, multiple disease focus, bringing to the area of alcohol use and disease outcome, substantial health policy implications to inform public debate.
John Irwin, Criminologist 1929-2010
ISA deeply regrets the loss of Dr. John Irwin, Criminologist. 1930-2010
John Irwin, a uniquely San Francisco raconteur who proudly referred to himself as a rogue, died January 3, 2010, at the age of 80. Known internationally as an expert on the American prison system, John began his journey from criminal to criminologist by dabbling in “the life” as a young adult- resulting in a five year sentence in Soledad prison during the 1950s.
John was often called the Horatio Alger of ex-convicts. After his release from prison he earned a BA in sociology from UCLA and a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley. His dissertation, “The Felon,” published in 1970, became a classic in the field of criminology. John became a professor of sociology at San Francisco State University in 1967, where he taught for 27 years. There he founded Project Rebound, a degree program for ex-offenders.
During his career, Dr. Irwin, known as a “radical criminologist,” was a prolific writer who published dozens of scholarly articles and seven books, including “The Struggle for Justice,” “Prisons in Turmoil,” “The Jail,” “The Warehouse Prison,” “It’s about Time,” and “Lifers.”
Combining academics with activism, John founded the Prisoners’ Union, one of the first organizations dedicated to prisoners’ civil rights, in 1971. He served on numerous boards of directors for organizations dedicated to criminal justice policy and rehabilitation, including the Sentencing Project in Washington, D.C. and Walden House in San Francisco.
John’s interests and talents were diverse. He was a Renaissance man who liked to think of himself as a Bohemian; a surfer, skier, and cyclist; an avid reader, jazz fan, and furniture maker.
Most of all, John Irwin loved his family: daughters Jeanette, Katy and Anne, son Johnny, and wife of 38 years-Marsha Rosenbaum.
A celebration of John’s life will be held on Friday, January 8, 2010, at 4:00 PM at the Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop, The Presidio, San Francisco.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory can be made to:
JK Irwin Foundation
2233 Lombard Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
See also: Criminal turned criminologist John Irwin dies. San Francisco Chronicle. January 7, 2010.