BACKGROUND AND PHILOSOPHY

The Alden March Bioethics Institute (AMBI) is dedicated to advancing the scholarly and public understanding of ethical, legal, social and public policy implications of biomedical research and health care policy and delivery. To achieve its mission and sustain its position as a leader in bioethics research, education and outreach, the Institute relies on a mix of funding sources ranging from tuition revenue and conference fees, to gifts from individuals and corporations, as well as long-term grants and contracts from foundations and government entities. The Institute works collaboratively with other organizations around the world to identify program opportunities and to develop funding mechanisms that further their mutual interests and objectives.

In accepting funds from external institutions AMBI, and all faculty and staff members accepting funds under the auspices of AMBI, are required to abide by the rules and regulations of the Albany Medical College.

As a matter of professional integrity AMBI and its faculty should not accept external support that may compromise, or appear to compromise, the ability to conduct independent research, the right to publish research findings in professional publications, or any constraint on the rights of faculty to speak their minds freely. All external funding shall be openly acknowledged and disclosed on the AMBI website and in all professional and other publications.

AMBI faculty may act as consultants to public and private, commercial and nonprofit organizations. However, the rate of compensation, including perks such as gifts and payment for attractive subsidized travel, must not depend on the conclusions reached. Faculty should not accept contingency fees, nor should compensation involve any equity interest whose value might depend on the conclusions. The rate of compensation should be commensurate with the consultant’s compensation from other clients, and/or with the compensation offered by that client to other experts. Compensation should be paid only for work actually performed, or as a retainer against work to be performed.