US health agency chief seeks conflict summit

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The head of the U.S. National Institutes of Health said he wants government and academic leaders to meet to address conflicts of interest in medical research, the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday.

“We need to have a summit discussion to say, ‘Look, what is the interest of the public?’ The interest of the public is to make sure the science that’s done is not tainted,” the Times quoted NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni as saying.

"We can’t lose the public trust. Not just at NIH, but into research in general. There is work to be done. Stay tuned,” he told the Times in an interview.

The newspaper said Zerhouni did not indicate whether he would organize such a meeting.

On Feb. 1, the agency announced a ban on outside employment by its scientists aimed at ending some high-profile consulting arrangements that have tarnished the agency’s image.

The rule forbids any NIH employee to work for pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies or other organizations substantially affected by NIH policy such as universities or non-profit groups that get NIH funding.

Certain employees also are barred from owning stock or investing in companies affected by NIH, a flagship agency that funds much of the medical research done in the United States.

Zerhouni announced plans for the new rules in June at a congressional hearing about reports that a few NIH staffers had made hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting arrangements.

The NIH is considered the world’s premiere research institution, with an annual budget of $28 million and 18,000 employees.

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