Ethics-Governance: Article: eMJA: Van Der Weyden, Confronting conflict of interest in research organisations: time for national action

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eMJA: Van Der Weyden, Confronting conflict of interest in research organisations: time for national action Confronting conflict of interest in research organisations: time for national action There is a pressing need for an open inquiry and the formulation of national guidelines MJA 2001; 175: 396-397. Public trust in universities and research institutes is embedded in notions of intellectual integrity and independence. Crucial to this trust is the belief that these virtues are protected by an environment that values intellectual freedom, an unfettered exchange of information and ideas, and the pursuit of research for the public good. Of late, however, this trust is threatened by the increasing involvement of industry in research funding and a blurring of research ideals and corporate interests.1,2 At the present time, this situation is more acute in the United States, but, as our governments, universities and research institutes increasingly pursue policies which blend research creativity and corporate capital,3-5 there is no reason to believe that Australia will escape placing research integrity and public trust at risk. Developments in the United States that have prompted a focus on the propriety of biomedical and clinical research include: A shift in the source of research funding from predominantly government and private foundations to industry. A substantial proportion of the US$55-$60 billion of industry research and development capital is now directed to basic biomedical research and clinical trials.6 Indeed, in 1999, the top 10 pharmaceutical companies spent US$22.7 billion primarily on clinical research, compared with the US$17.8 billion provided mostly for basic research by the US National Institutes of Health.2 A shift away from academic centres to non-academic research organisations for the performance of clinical trials. Full Article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/175_08_151001/mvdw/mvdw.html


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