Unconflicted Funds

Joe Barton (R–TX) and Greg Walden (R–OR), both members of the House Science Committee, sent a letter to Acting NIH Director Raynard Kington saying that NIH-funded scientists should not "self-regulate" potential conflicts of interest, says Science Insider. In particular, the representatives point to the recent fracas over using CT scans to detect lung cancer in which both sides were accused of having conflicts of interest. Barton and Walden add that the funds from the economic stimulus bill should "not [be] compromised by the potential conflicts of interest of researchers."