Accompanying the recommended revisions to the HMS conflicts-of-interest policy is an article by Jeffrey Flier, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, conveying his thoughts on the importance of academic and industry collaborations and how to provide reasonable and effective safeguards. The complete article can be found at http://hms.harvard.edu/public/coi/dean/2010_article.html. Below are some excerpts.
“Why is it necessary to consider academic interactions with industry? The reason is simple: neither academia nor industry acting alone can optimally provide the new therapies that we so desperately need to attack the medical afflictions we face.”
“Funding from federal and nonprofit sources is inadequate to support many meritorious proposals, and companies have the resources and interest and can provide reagents, techniques and expertise not otherwise available.”
“In all cases where financial interests are involved, an essential antidote to potential harm is transparency, and so disclosure of relevant financial interests internally—and, for the first time, publicly—will address this concern.”
“…We have placed new safeguards against inappropriate influence by the marketing arms of companies during educational events involving our faculty.”
“Under our new policy, we will limit potential abuses while promoting our great capacity to do good. That is our intention, and we are proud to be judged by our success at achieving it in the coming years.”
Read the full text of Dean Jeffrey Flier’s article on conflicts of interest.
