The U.S. Government's AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Adult ACTG Executive Committee Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group Executive Committee Membership Roster, 2007 Chair: Constance A. Benson, M.D. Professor of Medicine University of California, San Diego Dr Benson serves as a paid consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Pfizer. She owns stock options in Monogram Biosciences, a drug resistance testing company formerly known as ViroLogic, and Vertex. (Updated 03/21/07) Her husband, Dr. Robert T. Schooley, serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Anadys, Anormed, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Pfizer, Roche, Schering-Plough, Tanox, Tibotec and Vertex. Vice-Chair: Daniel R. Kuritzkes, M.D. Director of AIDS Research/Professor of Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School Dr Kuritzkes serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Anormed, Avexa, Bayer Diagnostics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Panacos, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, Schering-Plough, Tanox, Tibotec and VIRxSYS. He has received speaking fees from Abbott, Avexa, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Panacos, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, and VIRxSYS. He receives research support from Abbott, Gilead, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, Roche Molecuar Diagnostics, and ViroLogic (recently renamed Monogram Biosciences). (Source) Dr Kuritzkes also serves as a member of the HIV Advisory Board of Clinical Care Options, the premier Medical Education and Communications Company (MECC)in the field of HIV medicine, which receives enormous amounts of money from the marketing divisions of pharmaceutical companies to advertise and disseminate the pharma companies' hand picked and packaged summaries of the five principal AIDS medical conferences each year (CROI, ICCAC, IDSA, IAS, and the two biannual European AIDS meetings: EACS and the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection). Ann C. Collier, M.D. Director, Professor of Medicine University of Washington Harborview Medical Center Dr Collier last reported (c. 2005) serving as a paid consultant for Merck and research support from Agouron, Merck, Hoffmann-La Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, and Anor Med. Eric S. Daar, M.D. Chief, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute Dr Daar serves as a paid consultant or is a member of the speakers bureau for Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, and Pfizer. He receives research support from Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Monogram Biosciences. (Source) In a contemporary disclosure statement at TheBodyPro, Dr Darr also mentions serving as a consultant for Serono Labs -- and speaking fees from Serono and Tibotec-Virco. Judith A. Aberg, M.D Principal Investigator New York University School of Medicine Dr Aberg serves as a paid consultant or is a member of the speakers bureau for Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer-Ingleheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, and GlaxoSmithKline. (Source) Robert W. Coombs, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, University of Washington Retrovirology Laboratory Dr Coombs appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. David B. Clifford, M.D. Melba and Forest Seay Professor of Clinical Neuropharmacology Washington University School of Medicine Dr Clifford appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. Carl J. Fichtenbaum, M.D. Associate Prof. of Medicine/Co-Principal Investigator University of Cincinnati Clinical Research Site Dr Fichtenbaum appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. Susan L. Koletar, M.D. Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine Ohio State University Dr Koletar appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. Charles van der Horst, M.D. Professor of Medicine University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill Dr van der Horst has served as a paid consultant, as member of the companies' Scientific Advisory Board, for Abbott Laboratories and LabCorp. He owns stock in Novartis and Pfizer. (Updated 7/30/05) Dr van der Horst is also a founding member of the HIV Advisory Board of Clinical Care Options, the premier Medical Education and Communications Company (MECC) in the field of HIV medicine, which receives enormous amounts of money from the marketing divisions of pharmaceutical companies to advertise and disseminate the pharma companies' hand picked and packaged summaries of the five principal AIDS medical conferences each year (CROI, ICCAC, IDSA, IAS, and the two biannual European AIDS meetings: EACS and the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection). After serving thusly from approximately 1995 to 2003, he has since relinquished his post. Robert L. Murphy, M.D. Professor of Medicine/Principal Investigator Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Dr Murphy has served as a paid consultant to Roche, BristolMyers Squibb, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Idenix, and Pharmasset. (Updated 10/21/2005) In a June 2006 disclosure, Dr Murphy added that he was serving as a paid consultant to Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Pharmasset, and Roche Pharmaceuticals. And that he owns stock in Idenix and Pharmasset. Dr Murphy also seems to have forgotten his post on the Medical Advisory Board of the VIRxSYS Corporation, a privately-held biotechnology company which focuses on gene therapy. Perhaps he joined their board subsequent to his June 2006 disclosure? Robert T. Schooley, M.D. Professor of Medicine and Head of Division of Infectious Diseases University of California, San Diego Dr Schooley receives speaking fees and/or serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Anadys, Anormed, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Monogram Biosciences (a drug resistance testing company formerly known as ViroLogic), Pfizer, Roche, Schering-Plough, Tanox, Tibotec and Vertex. (Updated (05/16/07) His wife, Dr. Constance Benson, owns stock options in Monogram Biosciences and Vertex. Patient Representatives: Robert Levaro Tucson, AZ 85718 Ruben Jose Vidales Los Angeles, CA 90065 Headline Scientific Agenda Steering Committee Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group Scientific Agenda Steering Committee Membership Roster, 2007 Chair: Daniel R. Kuritzkes, M.D. Director of AIDS Research/Professor of Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School Dr Kuritzkes serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Anormed, Avexa, Bayer Diagnostics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Panacos, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, Schering-Plough, Tanox, Tibotec and VIRxSYS. He has received speaking fees from Abbott, Avexa, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Panacos, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, and VIRxSYS. He receives research support from Abott, Gilead, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, Roche Molecuar Diagnostics, and ViroLogic (recently renamed Monogram Biosciences). (Source) Dr Kuritzkes also serves as a member of the HIV Advisory Board of Clinical Care Options, the premier Medical Education and Communications Company (MECC)in the field of HIV medicine, which receives enormous amounts of money from the marketing divisions of pharmaceutical companies to advertise and disseminate the pharma companies' hand picked and packaged summaries of the five principal AIDS medical conferences each year (CROI, ICCAC, IDSA, IAS, and the two biannual European AIDS meetings: EACS and the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection). Constance A. Benson, M.D. Professor of Medicine University of California, San Diego Dr Benson serves as a paid consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Pfizer. She owns stock options in Monogram Biosciences, a drug resistance testing company formerly known as ViroLogic, and Vertex. (Updated 03/21/07) Her husband, Dr. Robert T. Schooley, serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Anadys, Anormed, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Pfizer, Roche, Schering-Plough, Tanox, Tibotec and Vertex. Joseph J. Eron, Jr., M.D. Professor of Medicine University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Dr Eron serves as a paid consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Roche, and Virco (a drug resistance testing company). He has received grants or research support from Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Panacos. (Source) Dr Eron also serves as a member of the HIV Advisory Board of Clinical Care Options, the premier Medical Education and Communications Company (MECC)in the field of HIV medicine, which receives enormous amounts of money from the marketing divisions of pharmaceutical companies to advertise and disseminate the pharma companies' hand picked and packaged summaries of the five principal AIDS medical conferences each year (CROI, ICCAC, IDSA, IAS, and the two biannual European AIDS meetings: EACS and the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection). Roy (Trip) Gulick, M.D., M.P.H. Principal Investigator Weill Medical College of Cornell University Dr Gulick serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Monogram Biosciences, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, Schering, Tibotec, and Virco. He also receives research funding from Gilead, Merck, Panacos, Pfizer, Schering, and Tibotec. (Updated 03/05/07) Richard H. Haubrich, M.D. Professor of Medicine University of California, San Diego Dr Haubrich serves as a paid consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead Sciences, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Merck, Roche, Schering-Plough, Tanox, and Trimeris. He receives research support from Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, and Tibotec. (Source) Robert W. Coombs, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, University of Washington Retrovirology Laboratory Dr Coombs appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. Thomas B. Campbell, M.D. Principal Investigator University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Dr Campbell serves as a paid consultant for Abbott Laboratories and GlaxoSmithKline. He has received honoraria for participation on an ad hoc advisory for GlaxoSmithKline and Roche. He receives research support from Boehringer-Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline. (Updated 12/23/05) Charles Flexner, M.D. Professor of Medicine Johns Hopkins University Dr Flexner has served as a paid consultant for Merck and has received honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline and Gilead Sciences. (Updated 6/23/05) Margaret James Koziel, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Institute of Medicine Dr Koziel appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. Kenneth E. Sherman, M.D., Ph.D. Gould Professor of Medicine University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Dr Sherman serves as a paid speaker/consultant for Roche Pharmaceuticals. (Updated 4/11/2007) Susan Swindells, M.B.B.S. Medical Director, HIV Clinic University of Nebraska Medical Center Dr Swindells serves as a paid consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb and receives other payments or honoraria from Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Pfizer. (Updated 10/31/2006) Cara C. Wilson, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Dr Wilson appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. Patient Representative: Robert Levaro Tucson, AZ 85718 Optimization of Antiretroviral Therapy ("OpART") Committee Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group Optimization of Antiretroviral Therapy ("OpART") Committee Membership Roster, 2007 Chair: Roy (Trip) Gulick, M.D., M.P.H. Principal Investigator Weill Medical College of Cornell University Dr Gulick serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Monogram Biosciences, Pfizer, Roche-Trimeris, Schering, Tibotec, and Virco. He also receives research funding from Gilead, Merck, Panacos, Pfizer, Schering, and Tibotec. (Updated 03/05/07) Vice-Chair: Richard H. Haubrich, M.D. Professor of Medicine University of California, San Diego Dr Haubrich serves as a paid consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead Sciences, Merck, Monogram Biosciences, Merck, Roche, Schering-Plough, Tanox, and Trimeris. He receives research support from Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, and Tibotec. (Source) Margaret A. Fischl, M.D. Director, AIDS Clinical Research Unit University of Miami AIDS Clinical Research Unit Joseph J. Eron, Jr., M.D. Professor of Medicine University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Dr Eron serves as a paid consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Roche, and Virco (a drug resistance testing company). He has received grants or research support from Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Panacos. (Source) Dr Eron also serves as a member of the HIV Advisory Board of Clinical Care Options, the premier Medical Education and Communications Company (MECC)in the field of HIV medicine, which receives enormous amounts of money from the marketing divisions of pharmaceutical companies to advertise and disseminate the pharma companies' hand picked and packaged summaries of the five principal AIDS medical conferences each year (CROI, ICCAC, IDSA, IAS, and the two biannual European AIDS meetings: EACS and the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection). John W. Mellors, M.D. Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Director HIV/AIDS Program University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Dr Mellors serves as a paid consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Merck and Tibotec-Virco. He owns stock or stock options in Achillion, Depomed, and Pharmasset, Inc. (Source: DHHS revised HIV practice guidelines, Appendix A) In 2004 he also reported owning stock in Idenix Pharmaceuticals. At that time he served on the HIV Advisory Boards for Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Tibotec-Virco. (Op Cit, archived 10/29/04 revisions) John Alexander Bartlett, M.D. Principal Investigator Duke University Medical Center Dr Bartlett serves as a paid consultant for Abbott Laboratories and a paid speaker for Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, and Roche. He also receives research support from Abbott, GlaxoSmithKline, and Roche. (Updated 12/14/2006) Judith Silverstein Currier, M.D., M.Sc. Professor of Medicine UCLA CARE Center Dr Currier serves as a paid consultant to Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Tibotec. (Updated 03/12/07) Dr Currier also serves as a member of the HIV Advisory Board of Clinical Care Options, the premier Medical Education and Communications Company (MECC)in the field of HIV medicine, which receives enormous amounts of money from the marketing divisions of pharmaceutical companies to advertise and disseminate the pharma companies' hand picked and packaged summaries of the five principal AIDS medical conferences each year (CROI, ICCAC, IDSA, IAS, and the two biannual European AIDS meetings: EACS and the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection). David Katzenstein, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine Stanford University Medical Center Center for AIDS Research Potential conflicts of interest currently under investigation Jody Lawrence, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine University of California, San Francisco Potential conflicts of interest currently under investigation Andrew R. Zolopa, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine Stanford University AIDS Clinical Trials Unit Dr Zolopa serves as a paid consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, and Monogram Biosciences. He is also a member of the speakers bureau for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, and Monogram Biosciences. He has received grants or research support and honoraria from Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Monogram Biosciences, and Roche Diagnostics. (Source) Like Dr Robert Murphy before him, Dr Zolopa appears to have forgotten his post on the Medical Advisory Board of the VIRxSYS Corporation, a privately-held biotechnology company which focuses on gene therapy. Dr Zolopa also serves as a member of the HIV Advisory Board of Clinical Care Options, the premier Medical Education and Communications Company (MECC)in the field of HIV medicine, which receives enormous amounts of money from the marketing divisions of pharmaceutical companies to advertise and disseminate the pharma companies' hand picked and packaged summaries of the five principal AIDS medical conferences each year (CROI, ICCAC, IDSA, IAS, and the two biannual European AIDS meetings: EACS and the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection). Charles B. Hicks, M.D. Duke University Medical Center Department of Medicine Dr Hicks serves as a paid consultant for Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Monogram Biosciences. He has received honoraria from Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, and Monogram Biosciences. He also receives research support from Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, Tibotec, and Monogram Biosciences. (Updated 12/09/2005) David W. Haas, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine & Director AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, Vanderbilt University Potential conflicts of interest currently under investigation Carl J. Fichtenbaum, M.D. Associate Prof. of Medicine & Co-Principal Investigator University of Cincinnati Clinical Research Site Dr Fichtenbaum appears to have no potentially compromising conflicts of interest. Rajesh Gandhi, M.D. Instructor in Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Potential conflicts of interest currently under investigation Christina M. Marra, M.D. Professor, University of Washington Harborview Medical Center Potential conflicts of interest currently under investigation Nancy S. Shulman, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Stanford University Potential conflicts of interest currently under investigation Richard B. Pollard, M.D. Professor of Medicine & Chief of Infectious Diseases University of California, Davis Medical Center Dr Pollard has joined Dr Kuritzkes, Dr Murphy, Dr Zolopa and other AIDS luminaries not part of the AACTG (Brigitte Autran, Christine Katlama, Joep Lange, Julio Montaner, and John Sullivan, just to name a few) to serve on the Medical Advisory Board of the VIRxSYS Corporation, a privately-held biotechnology company which focuses on gene therapy. Patient Representatives: Rob Camp New York, NY 10002 Michael D. Stewart Durham, NC 27707 [A PRIMER ON DISCLOSURE DUPLICITY AT THE NIH: While technically required to fully disclosure all potential conflicts of interest on an annual basis according to NIH ethics guidelines, leaders of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group report receipt of pharma gifts, speaking & consulting income via the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, form OEG-450 -- rather than the Public Financial Disclosure Report, form SF-278. (If this makes sense, from a transparency perspective, will someone please explain it to the rest of us?) Thus, the limited financial conflict of interest information presented here was necessarily gleaned piecemeal from the small (but growing) number of medical journals and medical education websites which publicly display potential financial conflicts of interest for the authors appearing in their pages.] Headline While the annual submission of conflct of interest information is required of all members of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, there are two types of financial disclosure reports: public (SF-278) and confidential (OGE-450). As the names imply, public financial disclosure reports are open to public viewing. Confidential financial disclosure reports, by contrast, are not released to the public, but may be released to the Chair of congressional committees. As might have expected, phsyician-researchers in positions of power & influence at the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (part of the NIAID, and thus, the National Institutes of Health) fill out the confidential disclosure form OGE-450, and thus this information is not available to the interested public—including patients and patient advocates. Multiple requests for access to this information via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was unsurprisingly denied by the NIH FOIA office.   Headline