A Smokescreen at VCU

Today's New York Times reports on a restrictive research contract that Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has with Philip Morris USA--both based in Richmond, Virginia--that gives the tobacco giant veto power over the publication of academic studies by faculty. VCU's VP of research acknowledges that the contract violates the university’s own guidelines for industry-sponsored research.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.