Comments on: NIH Suspends Big Grant To Emory University

By: Geneve from ATL

Geneve from ATL — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:18:48 +0000

I wonder if Grassley and NIH should not start investigating other misuses of public grants, such as investigators starting their own unsuccessful companies around valuable patents developed with federal funds, and paying nothing to the public coffers… universities sweet-dealing with their own employees. some technologies could even be life-saving ones… all lost in ego-boosting enterprises

By: Sammy Sucra

Sammy Sucra — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:41:46 +0000

While universities and their corporate greed turns a blind eye to this common and disgraceful activity, we musy also note that some investigators do seem to take the high ethical road. A NYT article earlier this year by Gina Kolata describes this rare species.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/health/15conf.html

These are the examples of how to be conflict-free and still make important contributions.

By: beenthere

beenthere — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:23:51 +0000

could nimh have taken a more assertive and proactive stance on this? nimh director is former emory prof

By: Daylight

Daylight — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:41:43 +0000

Emory has known this all along. This is just the tip of Emory’s iceberg….all the researchers are on the same train with Nemeroff. Taxpayers fund experiments, the Nemeroffs come by and patent whatever and the public has to pay for it all again—in the meantime all similar Nemeroff thieves are getting pharma money to say anthing pharma wants.

The public is S-T-U-P-I-D and deserves to be screwed over because their lazy and don’t speak up.

By: Nancy Fruge

Nancy Fruge — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:59:48 +0000

So NIH is finally heeding Senator Grassley’s advice to “add teeth” to the financial disclosure regulations for grants(specifically Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, Subpart F, Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for Which Public Health Service Funding Is Sought).

NIH has posted a cool tutorial here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/coi/tutorial/fcoi.htm

By: Sammy Sucra

Sammy Sucra — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:12:12 +0000

I agree with this suspension of funding until adequate clarification is provided. There are too many universities that condone unethical activity, conflicts, etc, and this move by NIH should get their attention. Luckily, in Canada, it is my understanding that we do not have the $10K limit for NIH, or any other type of funding. I heard that Deans are very happy to have these so-called key investigators on their payroll that they turn a blind eye to the actual, often huge, extra incomes generated. Instead, “conflict” occurs when time spent on non-university activities exceeds 20% (but the 20% of what is poorly defined). So, we are open for business for these types of key opinion leaders - money no object. Come on down!

By: Lisa Van S

Lisa Van S — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:09:45 +0000

Wow!! Senator Chuck Grassley.. Gotta love the man!!!