Harvard professors, even those with their own links to biotechnology firms, generally acknowledge this potential for conflict of interest, especially if a faculty member holds a job at such a firm.

"I do believe [the relationships] cause conflicts of interest and I worry seriously about these things, particularly if there is money involved," says Jerome Gross, an emeritus professor at the Medical School who sits on the scientific advisory board of Organogenesis, Inc., a biotech firm which manufactures organ replacements for transplantation.

"A director 'legally' owns the company and therefore has a major responsibility for its welfare which may be in conflict with academic responsibilities," Gross says. "For somebody to found the company and be an officer in the company and at the same time have serious academic commitments, I think, is a more serious conflict liability."

One aspect of holding a job which can provide a conflict of interest is its time commitment.

Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles said he resigned his position on the scientific advisory board of Biogen when he became dean in 1990, "primarily because of time constraints."

And Gilbert, who founded Biogen and said he served as its chief executive officer for four or five years in the early '80s, resigned his professorship at Harvard while he ran Biogen. Gilbert was subsequently re appointed when he stepped down as CEO.

FAS regulations, as outlined in the "Principles and Policies That Govern Your Research and Other Professional Activities," require that "no more than 20 percent of one's total professional effort [during the academic year] may be directed to outside work."

Money

Epigen

Other professors are more concerned with conflicts when a company provides research funds to a professor.

"[The relationships] could be considered a conflict of interest if the professor allowed it to be a conflict of interest, namely if the research was strictly in the interest of the company providing the funds," says Warren E.C. Wacker, former director of University Health Services and a former member of the board of directors of Millipore Corporation.

Gilbert says that as faculty receive company money to conduct research more frequently, the propriety of the research becomes a more critical issue.

"I think research at the University should be open," he says. "Company research which has a confidential character is not good."

But many professors respond that this type of conflict of interest has the most enforceable guidelines.

Bjorn R. Olsen, Hersey professor of anatomy and cellular biology and a member of the scientific advisory board of Organogenesis, Inc., says he has held a stock option in the company for the duration of the time he has worked for them.

Olsen says Harvard received a grant this year from Organogenesis, Inc. to support a specific project in which he participates.