Academic–Industrial Relationships in the Life Sciences

This Health Policy Report reviews the history of the relationships between academic institutions and industrial organizations in the United States and discusses recent developments in this area. Academic–industrial relationships have fostered the development and dissemination of valuable medical advances, but they have also resulted in financial conflicts of interest that have threatened both the welfare of subjects enrolled in clinical research trials and the integrity of the research process. The author outlines strategies for managing academic–industrial relationships so as to safeguard both human subjects and the integrity of research.