Commercialization, patenting and genomics: researcher perspectives

Concern about the impact of commercialization pressure on the research environment can be found in both the academic and popular literature [1-4] - and for good reason. For example, there is evidence that commercial influences can increase the rate of information withholding among researchers [5-8] and encourage selective reporting of research outcomes unfavorable to industry [7,9-13]. In addition, close links with industry can erode public trust in both the research being done and the individuals who are doing it ([14]; for an extended discussion of the political and scientific importance of public trust, see [15]).There is also concern about commercialization in genetics, particularly in the context of patenting. Gene patents have come under intense criticism in the media [16-18] and in the academic community [19-22], and they have been the subject of numerous policy reports [23-25]. Surveys of the public indicate that popular opinion is also largely negative [26]. Although recent research has reduced some of the concerns associated with gene patents [27-29], concerns remain and have, in fact, motivated calls for policy reform [25].Here, we seek to provide further insights regarding the perceptions of a key group of stakeholders: genomic researchers. Building on the relevant survey work that has been done in other jurisdictions [28,29] and in other related areas of research [30], we conducted a series of in-depth structured interviews with leading Canadian genomics scientists on the topic of commercialization and gene patenting with the hope that their perspectives would provide fresh insights to help advance a debate that has sometimes fallen into stock arguments.We contacted regional Genome Canada centers (Genome Alberta, Genome BC, the Ontario Genomics Institute, Genome Quebec and Genome Atlantic) and asked them to provide contact information for all principal investigators, co-investigators and collaborators. Key researchers were then selected from each center