AAMC Supports Strong Oversight Of Federal Conflict Of Interest Regulations For NIH-Funded Research

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 21 Jan 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and Chief Executive Officer Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., issued the following statement, in response to the report of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General which calls on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to strengthen its oversight of federal conflict of interest regulations that apply to grantee institutions:

"The Inspector General's report is an important reminder that a robust, credible, transparent system of monitoring potential financial conflicts of interests in federally-funded research is critical to protecting patients' interests and scientific integrity and maintaining the public's trust. The AAMC and its members support strong and effective implementation of the federal conflict of interest regulations that apply to research funded by NIH and other Public Health Service agencies.

It is important to note that the NIH's own Targeted Site Review Report, issued one year ago, found that grantee institutions exhibited a "solid awareness" of the importance of compliance with federal conflict of interest regulations. Although the NIH credited these institutions for having mature and effective conflict of interest management programs, it noted that the institutions had not been consistently diligent in reporting instances of financial conflicts of interest to the agency, as required by the regulations.

The AAMC supports two of the three recommendations issued by the Inspector General-both of which call on the NIH to strengthen its internal administrative systems of conflict of interest oversight. The AAMC joins the NIH, however, in rejecting the third recommendation, which would require the agency to become involved in research institutions' own management of specific conflict of interest cases in a manner that is unfeasible and beyond the NIH's existing statutory authority.

The implementation of conflict of interest management programs at academic medical centers has been a challenging undertaking, and the AAMC acknowledges that there is opportunity for improvement. To assist medical schools and research universities in this task, a joint AAMC-Association of American Universities Advisory Committee has worked during the past year to develop additional guidance and tools that will address key areas of conflict identification, evaluation, management, and disclosure. We expect to issue this report in mid-spring.

The AAMC supports federal regulations requiring that both the NIH and the grantee institution be vigilant in fulfilling their obligations to identify, disclose, and manage researchers' financial conflicts of interest. A system in which both entities share responsibility for the oversight and management of such conflicts is the most effective way to ensure transparency, public accountability, and responsible stewardship of federal resources."

The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 126 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians.

Association of American Medical Colleges