Academic Industry Relationships in Biotechnology: A Primer on Policy and Practice

Academic industry relationships (AIRs) in biotechnology are part of the modern life science economy. They cannot and should not be prevented. But their benefits should not be exaggerated, nor their risks minimized or ignored. It is essential that these relationships be understood, monitored, and managed in a manner that protects the investments and the integrity of involved individuals, institutions, and science in general. Failure to do so could result in loss of public confidence and support for research enterprise - a priceless resource whose integrity and independence are critical to the future of the scientific endeavor.