Immunodiagnostics in birmingham

Anxieties that commercial interests might compromise academics and their research have always been the subject of lively debate but the shouting has been particularly loud recently with the growth of the new biomedical technologies and the pressures that it has brought upon academics with something relevant and important to sell. Such easily acquired money is bound to disturb the academic milieu in times that are hard for universities. In this invited article university-based immunologists discuss their experience of direct links with industry in the supply of immunodiagnostics. This experience, predating the 'biotechnology gold rush' of the last three years (The Economist, June 13) is set in the context of U.K. science but the issues raised are relevant to developments now taking place in North America, several European countries and Australia.