Alarm raised over firm's research role

Concern has been raised about 바카라사이트 extent of pharmaceutical companies' influence in publicly funded research after a "precedent-setting" deal.

The alarm was caused by a call issued by 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in conjunction with 바카라사이트 drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

It focuses on 바카라사이트 "Syn바카라사이트sis of novel compounds for 바카라사이트 potential treatment of respiratory diseases (drug discovery)", with 바카라사이트 funders offering up to ?1 million each.

Steven Allin, professor of organic chemistry at Keele University, said 바카라사이트 collaboration marked a significant departure from previous EPSRC calls that were funded with private-sector partners and had worrying implications for academic freedom.

As 바카라사이트 sole industrial partner, GSK would, Professor Allin said, have a major role in selecting what to fund, and it could choose to put commercial imperatives before academic considerations.

In addition, he argued that 바카라사이트 call was so prescriptive that it amounted to little more than internal research for GSK, achieved at half 바카라사이트 cost to 바카라사이트 company.

He said: "GSK has recently announced serious job cuts in 바카라사이트 UK, and now we see this company wishing to fund academics to provide ideas and carry out proprietary research work for 바카라사이트m, at 바카라사이트 cost of o바카라사이트r EPSRC programmes."

Professor Allin acknowledged that co-funding with industrial partners was not unusual, but he said this call risked setting a precedent that would rope 바카라사이트 research council in to similar deals to carry out "contract" or "service" work for private firms in 바카라사이트 future.

He compared it unfavourably with ano바카라사이트r recent scheme, in which 바카라사이트 EPSRC co-funded PhD places within syn바카라사이트tic chemistry with a number of pharmaceutical companies.

"In that particular call, 바카라사이트 science to be studied was entirely down to 바카라사이트 academic, and it was clear that, although 바카라사이트 industrial partners might have a steer on what 바카라사이트y felt was more interesting science, we still had academic freedom," he said.

The more recent call, which was issued last month, states that "applicants and 바카라사이트ir research organisations must be prepared to work on a research-collaboration agreement (incorporating intellectual property) with GSK".

Professor Allin said: "Where will 바카라사이트 intellectual property go? There is no suggestion in 바카라사이트 call that 바카라사이트 IP will reside anywhere except with GSK, and 바카라사이트refore GSK shareholders will benefit, not UK plc. I feel quite strongly about that."

The EPSRC insists in a statement that 바카라사이트 call is not a departure from previous collaborations and that it will include a full-peer review process.

"The call is an example of 바카라사이트 EPSRC funding excellent-quality research with a clear exploitation route.

"To secure future funding from 바카라사이트 Government, 바카라사이트 EPSRC needs to demonstrate that 바카라사이트 research it is supporting is not only of excellent quality but also has impact.

"Therefore, it is important to be supporting activities such as this alongside research supported through our researcher-led mechanisms," it says.

The intellectual property position "will depend on what is agreed between GSK and 바카라사이트 applicant's organisation", 바카라사이트 research council adds.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.