Financial conflicts of interest pose many challenges to health care professionals. They raise concerns about the objectivity and trustworthiness of research conduct and publications, the prudent management of scientific investigations and other activities in the public interest, and the commitment of health care professionals to the best interests of patients. In recent years the media has highlighted failures of individuals and institutions to disclose and appropriately manage financial ties with industry (including pharmaceutical, medical device, medical supply, and insurance companies). These failures contribute to questions about whether industry has undue influence in research and other activities.

As medical research, professional education, health care, and institutional management have become vastly more complex and expensive, the task of managing conflicts of interest has become more challenging. Industry is now the leading funder of medical research, and much research is conducted in nonacademic settings. Industry also is involved in funding the development of evidence reviews and practice guidelines that are intended to help translate research findings into practice. Such guidelines may shape clinical choices and may even be used to evaluate professional or institutional performance.

The Institute of Medicine will prepare a consensus report that will:

1. examine and describe conflicts of interest involving health care professionals and industry in different contexts, including, for example, the conduct of research, the education of health professionals, the development of practice guidelines, the provision of patient care, and the management of academic and other institutions;
2. propose principles to inform the design of policies, guidelines, and other tools to identify and manage conflicts of interest in these contexts without damaging constructive collaboration with industry; and
3. consider methods to disseminate, promote, implement, and evaluate these principles and policies.