Partnerships in Science: Academic Industry Relationships

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Partnerships in Science Academic Industry
Relationships

• Eric G. Campbell, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor
• Institute for Health Policy

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Disclaimer and Disclosure

• Comments do not represent the views of the IHP,
  MGH, or Harvard Medical School
• No relationships of any kind with any firm whose
  products or services relate to the life science
  research enterprise
• Research funding is from the NIH and the
  Greenwall Foundation

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Purpose of Presentation

• Present my thesis on academic industry
  relationship
• Present research data to support that thesis
• Present a set of policy recommendations to
  address the disclosure and management of academic
  industry relationships

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Thesis

• Academic industry relationships are a fundamental
  part of the modern life science enterprise. These
  relationships are not universally bad or
  universally good. They have both risks and
  benefits. The challenge is to enact new policies
  and procedures related to the disclosure and
  management of these relationships such that the
  benefits are achieved and the risks are limited.
  Failure to do so could have dire consequences for
  the future of the life science enterprise.

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Background Definition of AIRs

• Definition
• Academic-Industry Relationships (AIRs)
  Arrangements between academics researchers and
  institutions and industry in which something of
  value is exchanged
• Examples of Types of Relationships
• Research relationships (grants and contracts)
• Consulting
• Licensing
• Equity
• Training
• Gifts

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AIRs are a fundamental part of the modern life
science enterprise...

• Faculty Researchers
• 60 of faculty served as consultants in last 3
  years
• 43 of faculty received research related gifts in
  last 3 years
• 28 of faculty received research funding from
  industry
• 9 of faculty own equity in firm(s) related to
  area of scientific expertise

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AIRS are a fundamental part of the modern life
science enterprise...

• IRB Members
• 26 receive research funding
• 17 receive payments for attending meetings
• 14 serve as consultants
• 14 serve on a speakers bureau
• 10 serve on a scientific advisory board
• 7 receive support for students
• 2 serve as an officer/executive

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AIRs are a fundamental part of the modern life
science enterprise...

• IRB Chairs
• 29 receive research funding
• 17 receive payments for attending meetings
• 17 serve as a consultant
• 12 serve on a speakers bureau
• 17 serve on a scientific advisory board
• 7 receive support for students
• 1 serve as an officer/executive

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AIRs are a fundamental part of the modern life
science enterprise...

• Physicians
• 78 receive drug samples
• 83 receive food and beverages
• 35 receive reimbursements for meetings
• 18 receive consulting payments
• 15 serve on speakers bureaus
• 9 serve on advisory boards
• 3 receive payments for enrolling patients

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AIRs are a fundamental part of the modern life
science enterprise...

• Institutional relationships
• 46 of medical school departments receive CME
  support from industry
• 28 receive research support given to the
  department
• 20 receive funds from technology transfer
• 14 receive research equipment
• 14 receive support for students and post-docs

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AIRs are a fundamental part of the modern life
science enterprise...
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Relationships have benefits...

• Funding to support research (1.5 billion in
  1995)
• Increased academic productivity
• Industry funded scientists publish significantly
  more articles
• Increased commercial productivity
• Patent applications, Patents granted, licenses,
  start-ups, etc
• Increased access to resources
• Support for students
• Opportunity to participate in application of
  research
• Offset wage differential between industrial and
  non-industrial sectors that will assist in
  recruitment and retention of scientists and
  administrators

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Relationships have risks..

• Secrecy in science
• Delays, Denials and Trade Secrecy
• Shifting focus of science away from basic
  research
• More likely to work on projects that have
  commercial potential
• Potential bias in research
• Pro-industry results
• Increased management and negotiation costs
• Perception of being bought out
• Risks to patient safety
• xx of IRB members with AIRs voted on proposals
  from companies with which they had a COI

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The challenge is to disclose and manage
relationships

• Disclosure
• Some form of annual disclosure for faculty is the
  norm in academiadisclosures differ greatly
  between institutions
• Disclosure in publications and presentations
• Review disclosures in context of established
  institutional policies and procedures
• Ban some relationships (but not all)
• PI with equity in clinical trials
• Gifts to individual scientists
• Aggressively manage relationships in accordance
  with policy
• Establish monitoring boards
• Divestiture
• Ignore and Pray

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Implications for the future

• Stop the spinmeet in the policy middle
• Develop universal disclosure policies and
  procedures that applies to all faculty and
  administrators in all institutions receiving
  federal funds
• Disclose and manage all relationships at the
  institutional level
• Develop and implement new policies and procedures
  that assist faculty in making good decisions
  about AIRs
• Share experiences so others may learn
• Educate public, elected officials, faculty and
  industry representatives

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Failure to do so could have dire consequences for
the future of the life science enterprise.

• Scandals
• Compromise of key values such as openness and
  truth
• Human subjects concerns
• Increased governmental regulation
• Failure to capitalize on public investment in
  life science research
• Loss of public support for academic science and
  industry