Conflicts of Interest on Federal Stem Cell Committee
Posted by Jesse Reynolds April 29, 2008
Biopolitical Times
Almost half the members of the federal government's panel that develops recommendations regarding blood stem cells have conflicts of interest. This is according to research by the Integrity in Science project of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
At least 11 of the 25 voting-members of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Council of Blood Stem Cell Transplantation have financial ties to cord blood-banking and transplantation industry despite a committee charter stating that such conflicts should be limited. The council, which meets for the second time today and tomorrow, was formed earlier this year to provide “expert, unbiased analysis and recommendations” on blood stem cell transplantation policy, regulation, and research. The committee’s charter prohibits Council members with financial ties to donor centers, recruitment organizations, transplant centers, or cord blood banks “from participating in any decision that materially affects the center, recruitment organization, transplant center, or cord blood bank.” It also calls on HHS officials to “limit the number of members of the Advisory Council with any such affiliation.” A Center for Science in the Public Interest survey of committee membership found that nearly half of the committee’s voting members have financial ties to the stem cell and blood bank industry.
For links and more information, see the latest issue the Integrity in Science Watch e-newsletter.
Previously on Biopolitical Times: