Cancer studies show conflicts of interest

A new concern is being raised in the field of cancer research. A study from the University of Michigan shows that almost 1/3 of all cancer studies contain a conflict of interest. Most of these conflicts arise from industry funding for the studies including having a study author be an employee of the company. This is treacherous territory and brings into question the positive nature of some drug testing.

Here is an article from Biology News Net.

Omai

I understand what you're saying but don't see that this is much worse than the situation in which a scientist has to publish well in order to get his/her next grant/job. A high degree of ethical behaviour is required which is simply not rewarded. In an ideal world  scientists would be able to publish negative results and get similar credit for them. It would also prevent hundreds of other scientists doing the same work to come to the same conclusion, wasting their time and money in the process.

I think this is a little different. There can be direct pressure from the company to obtain postive results for a specific drug. I think the study (from Michigan) is suggesting that actual results may be compromised, not just the withholding of negative data. Atleast in the purely academic research world, a new hypothesis can be pursued.

Omai