Harold E. Varmus Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“In the 1960s and '70s, there wasn't much evidence at all. We knew vaguely the causes of cancer, but methods like genomics were very new.”

“Our biggest single theme is trying to make the NIH work better with the same amount of money.”

“Science can improve lives in ways that are elegant in design and moving in practice.”

“Some growths can be detected early, making for increased accuracy in diagnosis. Some can be cured and others controlled.”

“Tobacco, UV rays, viruses, heredity, and age are the main causes of cancer.”

“When I was the NIH director, I often expressed envy of institute directors: they had the money and ran the scientific programmes.”

“A major feature of life at the NIH in late 1960s was the extraordinary offering of evening courses for physicians attempting to become scientists as they neared thirty.”

“All basic scientists who look to the NCI for funding should know that I will tolerate no retreat on the study of model systems and the pursuit of fundamental biological principles.”

“As an undergraduate at Amherst College, I was devoted to Dickensian novels and antiestablishment journalism while marginally fulfilling premedical requirements.”

“Cancer is a collection of many diseases with common principles, and each disease will have to be understood and more effectively controlled on its own terms.”