Scientists quitting NIH over conflict of interest rules
Scientists quitting NIH over conflict of interest rules
Survey shows 40% not happy with loss of income
Ethics rules aimed at curbing conflicts of interest of National Institutes of Health (NIH) employees should have a positive impact on public opinion of NIH credibility, a survey of agency employees revealed; at the same time, almost 40% say they are leaving or considering leaving due to the restrictions on their ability to earn outside income.
Despite the indications that the new ethics rules, issued in August 2005, could mean a mass exodus of current employees and difficulty attracting replacements, NIH director Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, says the rules are not open to revision at this time.
"Although the survey does suggest concerns about the impact of the regulations on recruitment and retention, at this time we do not anticipate revisions in the regulations," Zerhouni stated when the survey results came out. "We do, however, plan to proceed with the next two stages of the evaluation process."
He points out that while the survey results are consistent with anecdotal evidence of a possible impact on recruitment and retention, data from 2005 indicate NIH scientists have resigned and retired at about the same rate for the last several years. Future stages of the evaluation will survey NIH employees who have already left the agency to find out if the new ethics rules influenced their decision to go, and potential employees on whether the rules affect their decision to join NIH.
The survey asked the 8,000 NIH employees who responded (about half the workforce) for their opinions on the ethics rules and what the public's perception of the rules might be.
Almost three-fourths of the respondents said the rules would positively impact the agency's credibility with the public. More than half said the rules would have negative effects on the NIH's efforts to recruit or retain staff.
Fewer than 20% said the new rules would have a positive effect on their career outlook. Forty percent said the new rules are too restrictive.
The crackdown on outside income for NIH scientists came after agency leaders learned that scientists violated existing restrictions on lucrative private consulting deals with drug and biotechnology companies.
Under the new ethics rules, outside income from such companies is now banned, and there are tighter restrictions on employees' financial holdings and stricter disclosure requirements.
The report of the NIH survey is posted at the NIH conflict of interest web site, www.nih.gov/about/ethics_COI.htm.
Ethics rules aimed at curbing conflicts of interest of National Institutes of Health (NIH) employees should have a positive impact on public opinion of NIH credibility, a survey of agency employees revealed.Subscribe Now for Access
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