Jump to full article: Medical Writing, Editing and Grantsmanship (blog), 2008-08-14
Intro: This week, a Richmond paper reports on a VCU proposal for a Center for Healthy Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes submitted in May or June to Philip Morris (despite repeated initial denials by the University) for up to $30M in funding. . . .
the reporter’s focus was rightfully whether an academic health center should even be soliciting funds from the tobacco industry for a purely public health project to stop the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy. At least one outside expert felt unsettled as well:
“No reputable organization will accept money from the tobacco industry in the public-health sector, and none will solicit it,” says John F. Banzhaf III, a professor of public interest law at George Washington University, and a tobacco industry opponent for more than 40 years. Banzhaf is particularly concerned that Strauss’s proposal went looking for the money: “Solicitation is very unusual.”
Indeed, even a local business writer and VCU booster in Richmond had concerns with this aspect of the proposal and the manner in which the University handled the request and then the denials of making such a request.
There also remain all those statements that seem rather dismissive of the research process made by Strauss, who is an established physician scientist serving as Dean of the VCU School of Medicine (and by default the “emerging” VCU School of Public Health), which received $56.5M from the NIH in 2007; as Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs for the VCU Health System; and, astonishingly, as PI on:
* one P60 Comprehensive Center Grant (P60MD002256-02), . . .
Notably, despite his passionate stance that it would be “immoral not to” use tobacco funds for this “noble and unimpeachable” cause, Strauss’s own sponsored programs are bench science, not clinical or public health in design. Nor, given the level of funding requested, does he appear sufficiently noble to donate his time to this “urgent public health service.” Nor, surprisingly, has he seemed to have considered simply asking GlaxoSmithKline to donate the nicotine replacement products (versus asking Philip Morris for cash with which to purchase them).
Then again, his stated lack of desire to publish this work –
“His goal with the pregnancy center is not to study the effects of nicotine replacement therapy on pregnant women and publish the results, he says”
– could finally explain why VCU so willingly gives Philip Morris the right to control publication of research conducted under their previously secret agreement uncovered by the NYT last May. (see also this explanation of how Philip Morris finagled this and the IP giveaway plus a downloadable copy of the actual agreement, which remains fully in effect) . . .
Next Town Hall Meeting to discuss the relationship between VCU and Philip Morris (including Dr. Strauss's center proposal) will be held Wednesday, September 3 from 4-6 p.m. in the Student Commons Theatre
September 3 Town Hall Meeting Participant Handout (to submit written comments anonymously)
September 3 Town Hall Meeting Agenda
This has not been announced on the VCU Calendar as of today (8/25), despite having been scheduled in July. Please spread the word since VCU does not intend to.
More details on the Town Hall Meeting and the Task Force itself are available, as is a detailed review of the terms of the master research services agreement currently in effect between VCU and Philip Morris (uncovered by the NYT in May 2008).
Sign the petition expressing concern about the relationship between VCU AND Philip Morris USA
Jump to full article » |