PHIL 7570
CASE STUDIES IN RESEARCH ETHICS
CONFLICT OF INTEREST & COMMITMENT
Recent trends in scientific research demonstrate an increased move to commercialize findings of research. Trends also indicate that the pressures to publish and produce novel research in order to secure a position, promotions, and funding are on the rise. Both the commercialization of research and the professional pressures in the academy produce conflicts between the need to produce good research and the temptation to cut corners and produce marketable researcj. This session will discuss these and other difficulties inherent in balancing these conflicts of interst and conflicts of committment.
Assigned Readings:
- ORI Text: Chapter 5 (pp. 67-81) free download at ORI.
- Article: How a Graduate Student Kindled a Firestorm in Forestry Research. By Jeffrey Brainard. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 21, 2006. Article discusses case that illustrates the conflicts of interest that can arise when public universities are expected to both produce high-quality, independent scholarship and improve the economies of their states.
- Case Studies: Conflict of Interest Case Studies (pdf)
Other Articles and Links
- University of Utah COI Links
- University Conflict of Interest Policies (COI Committee)
- University Technology Commercialization Office (TTO)
- Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP)
- Between Lab Bench and Marketplace: The Pitfalls of Technology Transfer. By Josua Powers. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 22, 2006.
- Looking for Gender Equality in the Lab. By Robin Wilson and Karen Birchard. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 20, 2006. Article about balancing a private life with professional ambitions, and the gender divide.
- Ethical Conflicts Plague NIH. By Sarah Webb. In Discover, January 2005. Also see NIH Issues Rules on Conflict of Interest. By Jeffrey Brainard.In The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 9, 2005.
- Medical Research Ethics Under the Microscope. From The Chronicle of Higher Education , July 25, 2003: A22-A24. Article reviews the confluence of commercial interest and academic integrity.
- Bioethics, Conflicts of Interest, and the Limits of Transparency. In Hastings Center Report, July-August, 2003. Argues that transparency in conflict of interest cases may be more harmful than good.
- Conflicts of Interest: Can You Believe What You Read? In Nature, March 28, 2002: 360-363. A study on the effect for-profit enterprise has on university research publications.
- Prof. Benham's Power Point on Conflict of Interest and Comittment