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The National Institutes of Health is a federally funded institution in the United States employing many scientists at their offices in Maryland, but also funding scientists at academic institutions all over the United States. NIH funding is one of the most important federal funding programs in the country for scientific research. Receiving an NIH grant is seen as a status symbol in the research community and in recent years has become more and more competitive and difficult to achieve.

The best minds in the United States work in NIH funded laboratories. It is no wonder that pharmaceutical companies look to these researchers as consultants. There have been recent restrictions placed on the outside consulting NIH scientists are allowed to do per year. This makes sense when considering perceived conflicts of interest as well as the integrity of the NIH as an institution. Disclosure of a scientist's ties to companies is a necessary component to understanding the perspective they give to their research, but outside consulting should not be banned. Private companies make up a large portion of some scientists' yearly income. Science does not pay well for many researchers and their ability to consult is necessary for their quality of life.

Though the NIH executive and scientific pay scale minimum for 2008 is approximately 114k a year, lower level scientists do not make half that in a year. Also, scientists funded by grants receive even less and are paid by their institution based on their grants, which have been dwindling in recent years. The greatest minds in the country should be compensated for their effort. Scientists live, eat, and breathe their work. I have seen researchers put in 80 hour weeks in their office and lab, and still work at home. Allowing them proper compensation for their abilities and their knowledge is only appropriate. It takes a decade or more of schooling after high school as well as a decade or more of working at entry level positions after receiving their highest degree to obtain a position in which the compensation and flexibility is correlative to the volume of work.

NIH scientists should be allowed to share their knowledge and expertise with private companies, but they should disclose these ties. The knowledge would benefit drug and treatment development as well as the researchers who deserve compensation for their work and knowledge.

Learn more about this author, Alicia M Prater PhD.
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