Are Tobacco Companies Paying for Bogus Studies?

Research groups are known to fund their studies by accepting grants from various organizations. If it weren’t for the kindness of donations, the research wouldn’t likely be able to be completed. Before medical research reports are published, most publications require knowing who conducted the research and who funded the research. This is standard procedure to ensure that the facts given are not tainted or biased.

Recently (and as far back as the 90s), some of the lung cancer studies have been shown accepting grant money from tobacco companies, leaving us to believe that the research may be a bit tainted. This is especially so with a specific research study from the Lung Cancer Screening Group. In the final report, it is basically saying that lung cancer isn’t as serious as it may seem and that with computed tomographic, or CT, scanning there are better chances of locating lung cancer in very early stages.

Who Funded the Dubious Tobacco Research?

There were 32 entities that funded this research, including Ligget, a major tobacco company. The researchers of this group made claims that the human subjects scanned by the CT machine who had early signs of lung cancer were treated and are now still living. Although this may be true, it is no need to assure smokers and other Americans that they shouldn’t worry about lung cancer (a.k.a. smoking). It makes you wonder what the real message behind the report really is.

When it was found out that the Lung Cancer Screening Group was receiving “blood money”, it was surprising and disappointing for readers and editors. It is hard to trust research that is funded by the enemy; besides, why did Ligget fund this specific research study?

Other research organizations -- many others -- have accepted tobacco money are Boston University and the University of Massachusetts. Boston University says to have received about $3.99 million from tobacco companies and the University of Massachusetts claims that they accepted no more than $2 million from tobacco companies. The two universities state that the funds were given with no strings attached.

Most universities are not required to check the source of funds their staff receive for research, which makes way for them to accept dirty money. It is important to read from publications whose editors check for them before printing an article from a research study, such as The Journal.

photo credit: kozumel