Academia-Profit making Corporate allignment- is NOT Conflict of Interest

Academia-Profit making Corporate allignment- is NOT Conflict of Interest


-by Dr.Rajan R Patil

There is criticism Dr. R. A. Mashelkar who in spite of being openly aligned with profit-making corporates were also in policy-influencing positions.
which is showcased as conflict of interest.

No we cant blame Mashelkar for Being aligned with profit making corporate. He is very much in align with larger policy that encourages academia and research institutions to court industry and industry courts academia because they are in syboitic relationship. That is how it should be, Industry benefits from R & D of Academia and in turn universities/research Inistitutions get funds- extr mural funding it is called, which even in ICMR and CSIR it is mandatory. In fact it is one of the yardstick to major the credibility of research who can generate funds outside this Institution and most importantly it create jobs for (placements)the students that graduate out of them. University/Research institutions credibility also depends upon the market up take of their trained students.

All progressive Universities/Research institutions have now separate office called corporate Relation office. We too have one. The puprpose is to promote Academia-Industry collaboration. The idea is to keep abreast with latest, our curriculum and syllabus can not be out of tune with market needs. The other day I personally visited fews CROs to get a feel for potential demand for Students with clincial research specialization as we are launching new Post graduate course MS Clinical Trials. It was a eye opener for me as the the existing Curriculam and syllabus is so out of sync. The CROs rued that existing graduate who come to them armed with Clinical Research degree are of no use to them as they simply dont come armed with basic and practical skills all that they have theoretical knowledge and that too outdated curriculum.Hence we took two decisions 1) have six months internship where students will be placed in Industry (CRO)so they get armed with some practical basic skill 2) To invite Industry people to take guest lecture to our stundets so that there is greater synergy between theory and practice.

Similarly for MPH degree we send students for six month intership with GO/NGO organisation all over India, for Hospital Adminsitration degree http://www.princetonreview.com/Careers.aspx?cid=203
we send students Corporate hospitals that is where they will ultimately land up, and for Health care management http://www.mastersinhealthcare.com/ MS Clinical Trial the students are placed in CROs. Remember while GO/NGO may be not for profit, but CRO and Corporate hospitals are ruthlessly for profit. If we teaching students to take charge of these sectors we have to engage this sectors and we do engage these sector proactively in the persuit of our academic interest of our students- in process if i am seen hobnobbing with these for profit making corporates, I can be open to all kind of interpretations and criticism- which is purely stems out of ignorance. We know what we are doing and why we are doing there is no conflict of interest in our intent.

I suppose even Mashelkar too will march forward with same attitude when criticized unfairly for being aligned with profit making corporates.

regards,
rajan

==
Dr. Rajan R Patil
Asst Professor.
PhD scholar in Respiratory Health.

Division of Epidemiology
School of Public Health
SRM University
Potheri, Kattankulathur - 603203
Greater Chennai,
INDIA.

Cell: 9445811610
Email : rajanpatil@yahoo.com