Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: A New Era for Biology and Medicine (2024)
Chapter: Appendix E: Disclosure of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest
Appendix E
Disclosure of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest
The conflict of interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determines that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual’s actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
Dr. Nicholas Adams has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the committee on Toward Sequencing and Mapping of RNA Modifications because he is an employee of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a company which develops nucleic acid–related tools and technologies.
The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include at least one person who has current experience developing tools and technologies for industry or the private sector, particularly in the rapidly changing field of RNA chemical modification. As described in his biographical summary, in his current role at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dr. Adams is responsible for the development of new tools and technologies for oligonucleotide analysis. These tools include the ability to mix, separate, and analyze different oligonucleotides. An understanding of these techniques and the approach that industry is taking to developing different tools and technologies will be critical to completing the study.
The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Dr. Adams is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.
The National Academies believes that Dr. Adams can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.
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