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Accepted Paper:
Can social scientist collaborate with Big Pharma? From complicity to careful engagement
Paul Martin
(University of Sheffield)
Funders are increasingly expecting researchers to collaborate with stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical industry, raising the danger of complicity. How can social scientists engage in a constructive manner, whilst remaining independent, principled and critical?
Paper long abstract:
The pharmaceutical industry plays a central role in the production of the drugs we use to treat most illnesses. It is immensely powerful and has received sustained attention from sociologists and anthropologists of health and illness who have provided a critique of its influence and unethical behaviour. However, in recent years funders are increasingly expecting researchers to collaborate with stakeholders, including industry. This raises important questions about the possibility of different forms of complicity. This presentation asks: how can social scientists engage with the pharmaceutical industry in a positive and constructive manner, whilst remaining independent, principled and critical? In answering this I will draw on my experience of establishing a major project on high priced drugs for rare diseases and the literature on research collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and responsible research and innovation. This will be used to propose a methodological framework that is based on a SCRIPT, which emphasises Strategic mapping, Careful and critical engagement, ongoing Reflection, maintaining Independence, normative Principles and building Trust.