NIH Fails To Oversee Grantees' Conflicts Of Interest, Grassley Says

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 14 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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NIH has failed to oversee conflicts of interest relating to almost $24 billion in annual funds the agency distributes to outside organizations for medical research, according to a recent letter by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to the Senate Appropriations Committee, CQ HealthBeat reports.

NIH requires grantees of the extramural funds -- including non-government organizations and government agencies, such as CMS -- to collect and track information on money they receive from drug companies and device makers. However, reports show in several instances that such tracking does not take place, Grassley said. Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, cited a report released in January by the HHS Office of Inspector General that found "NIH provided almost no oversight of its extramural funds."

NIH rules on disclosure need to "add teeth," Grassley said, adding that "researchers need to be put on notice that government grants come with obligations of financial disclosure."

NIH Director Elias Zerhouni said that the agency is conducting a full review of its "oversight of extramural institutions' financial conflicts of interest ... and has identified and is reviewing several areas for oversight enhancement." Zerhouni added, "I am hopeful that we can significantly enhance the identification and management of [financial conflicts of interest] to ensure that undisclosed, and therefore unmanaged, conflicts do not bias the design, conduct or reporting of NIH-supported research" (Parnass, CQ HealthBeat, 7/10).

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