Assembly of Scientists Supports Conflict Rules

Regarding your April 21 article, “Scientists Add Clout in NIH Fight”: The National Institutes of Health’s Assembly of Scientists was first organized in 1959 to give NIH scientists an opportunity to express their views to the public and the administration.

Rather than being a group of dissidents functioning on the fringes of NIH society, the assembly has been supported by the NIH administration. The recent election of a new executive committee took place on the NIH campus using NIH resources. The scientists on the executive committee were elected by their peers and are acknowledged leaders in their fields.

The Assembly of Scientists has made its position plain -- consistent with the views of the vast majority of NIH scientists -- that the assembly supports conflict-of-interest rules that protect the public interest and ensure public trust. In fact, NIH scientists overwhelmingly have observed both the spirit and the letter of NIH’s conflict-of-interest rules.

The Times states that the assembly opposes the new restrictions. Indeed, the assembly does oppose the unwarranted stock divestiture requirement, which would affect not only all NIH scientists and clinicians but also every NIH employee, from carpenters to custodial staff.

The assembly’s position is far from irresponsible and has been supported by professional societies and associations representing tens of thousands of American scientists, and all of the U.S. medical schools.

Elaine S. Jaffe MD

Assembly of Scientists of the National Institutes of Health

Great Falls, Va.