Majority of Academic Researchers Have Industry Ties

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http://www.pharmalot.com/2009/11/most-academic-researchers-have-industry-ties/Most Academic Researchers Have Industry TiesBy Ed Silverman // November 4th, 2009 // 12:48 pm The ongoing controversy over conflicts of interest among academic researchers with ties to drug or device makers prompted a little more research. And the results? A mailed survey of 3,080 academic life science researchers at 50 universities in 2007 found that 52.8 percent have some form of relationship with industry within the previous three years, according to Health Affairs.More specifically, 31.8 percent reported serving as consultants; 23.8 percent were paid speakers; 20.1 percent received research funding from industry as a principal investigator, and 17.7 percent were members of scientific advisory boards. Interestingly, the percent receiving industry research funding actually dropped from 28 percent from a similar survey conducted in 1995.Why the change? The researchers speculate that investigator dependence on industry may have been reduced by increased NIH funding and university policies that may have impeded academic-industry relationships. “On the other hand,” they suggest, “companies may be reducing their spending on academic research.” Here is the abstract.Also worth noting is that faculty with industry support were more likely to report trade secrets resulting from their work and experienced prolonged delays in publication. “These findings suggest that data withholding remains a greater (although perhaps diminishing) problem for industry-funded scientists and that university authorities need to remain vigilant that such funding may increase levels of secrecy on their campuses,” the authors noted. Among faculty without industry funding, rates of trade secrecy more than doubled, from 3 percent in 1985 to 7.3 percent in 2006–07.Hat tip to the WSJ Health blogPhoto courtesy of Dr. Jerome Kassirer, author of ‘On The Take’ =====In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.