Medical research grants under investigation
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, federal regulations define conflicts of interest as "receiving more than $10,000 a year or owning more than 5 percent of an entity that might bias their work."
According to Megan Columbus, the acting director of communications and outreach at NIH, the NIH believes that the process with financial conflicts of interests could be improved.
"Therefore, we plan on releasing an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (part of a formal process to change regulations which requires the Department of Health and Human Sources level and Office of Management and Budget approval) to give the research community and the public the opportunity to weigh in on the necessary changes to the financial conflict of interest regulation," she wrote in an e-mail.
"Conflicts of interest are inherent in the conduct of science," she added.
Grassley has sent letters requesting information on conflict of interest polices to over 20 universities in his investigation.
"I haven't released the names of all the places that I'm seeking information on, in order to keep the investigation as effective as possible," he said when asked whether Hopkins was one of the universities being investigated.
Yet Grassley believes that more needs to be done.
In September 2007, he introduced the Physicians Payments Sunshine Act, which would require companies to disclose any payments of more than $500 that they made to researchers.
Although it did not pass, Grassley say he plans to introduce it again.
Hopkins's stance has yet to be determined.
"The University has not taken a formal position.?However, in general, there is support for transparency and openness, and the Sunshine Act will go a long way toward establishing transparency," Gottlieb said.
According to Megan Columbus, the acting director of communications and outreach at NIH, the NIH believes that the process with financial conflicts of interests could be improved.
"Therefore, we plan on releasing an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (part of a formal process to change regulations which requires the Department of Health and Human Sources level and Office of Management and Budget approval) to give the research community and the public the opportunity to weigh in on the necessary changes to the financial conflict of interest regulation," she wrote in an e-mail.
"Conflicts of interest are inherent in the conduct of science," she added.
Grassley has sent letters requesting information on conflict of interest polices to over 20 universities in his investigation.
"I haven't released the names of all the places that I'm seeking information on, in order to keep the investigation as effective as possible," he said when asked whether Hopkins was one of the universities being investigated.
Yet Grassley believes that more needs to be done.
In September 2007, he introduced the Physicians Payments Sunshine Act, which would require companies to disclose any payments of more than $500 that they made to researchers.
Although it did not pass, Grassley say he plans to introduce it again.
Hopkins's stance has yet to be determined.
"The University has not taken a formal position.?However, in general, there is support for transparency and openness, and the Sunshine Act will go a long way toward establishing transparency," Gottlieb said.
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