KIE: Increasingly research carried out in university medical centers is funded by biotechnology firms. This collaboration raises the issue of conflict between a researcher's dedication to advancing medical knowledge and a researcher's desire to increase his or her income. This report by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs and the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs discusses the risks and benefits of a collaborative relationship to each party. It describes the different types of arrangements that exist between researchers and industry, and identifies the problems that may arise when a researcher or a medical center has a direct financial interest in a research program. The report concludes with ethical guidelines and recommendations for avoiding potential or actual conflicts of interest.