OPINION - Disclosing industry relationships - toward an improved federal research policy

[Guest guest]

Published at www.nejm.org July 14, 2010 (10.1056/NEJMp1006973)

Disclosing Industry Relationships — Toward an Improved Federal Research Policy

G. , Ph.D., and Darren E. Zinner, Ph.D.

Some types of academic–industry relationships are an essential

component of the research enterprise in the life sciences. Empirical

data show that more than half of academic scientists have such

relationships, which most often involve consulting, receiving research

funding, and providing scientific advice.1 These and other forms of

industry relationships are significantly more common among the most

productive academic scientists than among their less productive

colleagues. Moreover, every academic institution that is involved in

research most likely has some form of institutional relationship with

industry.2

Academic–industry relationships have both benefits and risks. Whether

through direct sponsorship of research or through advising, such

relationships facilitate the discovery of new drugs, devices, and

other medical innovations that often result in the improved diagnosis,

treatment, and prevention of human disease. At the same time,

published studies whose conduct involved financial relationships

between academia and industry have been shown to disproportionately

support the use, safety, and desirability of the companies' products

and services, leading to the perception that industry sponsorship

results in a systematic bias in favor of industry.

*****************************************************

Read the full article here:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMp1006973?query=TOC

Not an MD