Penn Bioethics Seminar Series: Matthew McCoy, PhD

Managing Institutional Conflicts of Interests in Technology Transfer: A Qualitative Study of Academic Research Institution Approaches and Best Practices

Matthew McCoy, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy

Abstract: Technology transfer from the academic to the private sector is critical to ensuring that academic discoveries are translated into commercially available therapies and interventions that benefit patients and public health. However, university involvement in research commercialization also generates institutional conflicts of interest (ICOI), which grow in number and complexity as institutions expand their technology transfer activities. Prior research has raised concerns that financial rewards associated with technology transfer can unduly influence the prioritization, conduct, oversight, and reporting of research. To date, however, little is known about academic research institutions’ current approaches to identifying and managing ICOI in the technology transfer process and how, if at all, these approaches can be strengthened. This presentation will present results from a qualitative study that used in-depth interview with administrators responsible for ICOI oversight at academic research institutions to identify strengths and limitations of institutions’ current approaches to ICOI.

For more information, contact Mary Pham, Mary.Pham@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.