Research from the mid-1980s has indicated that academic-industry relations in fields closely allied to genetics may have significant effects on research activities, including the academic and commercial productivity of involved industries and scientists, as well as levels of secrecy, openness of communication and the direction of research in academic labs. Much remains to be learned about the long-term significance of these potential effects. This grant provides funds to permit the development of an ethics component in a large scale study of academic-industry relationships in genetics and life sciences, being supported through the National Institutes of Health. This support allows a philosopher and a sociologist to collaborate in developing the ethics component, and in conducting and analysing results from case studies and surveys of researchers who have received awards from the Human Genome Research program as well as other academic life scientists. The ethical topics deserving exploration include traditional scientific norms and counternorms, and also new areas of concern including research, organizational, and interpersonal misconduct. Project results will be disseminated through books, articles, and presentations at professional associations and relevant meetings.
