About ASBMR

ASBMR STATEMENT ABOUT INTERACTIONS WITH INDUSTRY

Background
The ASBMR leadership approved and implemented a stringent code of ethics that guides leadership activities. This code was shared with the ASBMR membership and can be found here. The ASBMR Council expects that this policy, developed by the ASBMR Executive Director with the Ethics Advisory Committee, will undergo continued evaluation and refinement over time.

To articulate the guidelines governing the Society’s interaction with industry, the following guiding principles were drafted for member review and discussion.

Before introducing these principles, here are some useful definitions:

• “Sponsor” refers to the organizer, planner, and content developer of a scientific program.
• “Supporter” refers to the organization, company or government entity that provides financial support for an ASBMR endeavor through an educational or other grant mechanism.
• “Advertiser” refers to an individual, company or organization who/that pays a fee for advertising space in the ASBMR’s Journal. All advertisements are approved by the Editor prior to acceptance.
• “Renter/purchaser” refers to the individual or company who rents ASBMR mailing lists and/or exhibit booths, or purchases ASBMR books, Journal subscriptions, advertisements, meeting bag inserts and/or other products.
• “Industry-Supported Symposium” refers to a CME-accredited session at the ASBMR Annual Meeting that is financially supported by industry and organized by non-ASBMR members.

ASBMR Guiding Principles of Interaction with Industry

General

1. ASBMR may seek corporate support for educational initiatives that support the Society’s mission and goals, including the ASBMR Annual Meeting, grants and awards, other meetings, distribution or nontraditional formats of the Primer, the ASBMR websites and newsletters.
2. Corporate support enables the Society to leverage its resources and increase its scientific offerings and impact
3. ASBMR meeting co-chairs and organizers, Editors, Associate Editors, reviewers and members of Editorial Boards work to ensure that the ASBMR Annual Meeting Official Program, other ASBMR meeting programs, and all publication and other product content are free of undue influence by any party.
4. ASBMR staff members may seek industry support for ASBMR programs and products in the form of educational and other grants according to AMA, ACCME and other relevant guidelines. These guidelines allow no industry influence over content.
5. ASBMR will not make exceptions to its policies for corporate supporters or other groups/individuals.
6. ASBMR acknowledges industry support through the common practices adopted by other nonprofit groups and government entities: signage and slides at meetings; in writing in its programs, advertisements, newsletters and on its website; and with plaques presented at an annual social event.
7. No one company is permitted to underwrite an entire ASBMR scientific meeting.

Annual and Other Meetings

8. The ASBMR is the sole sponsor of all its Official Program scientific sessions at its Annual Meeting, except joint symposia, which are organized with other groups. When the ASBMR partners with another organization or government entity (e.g., in the case of a joint symposium at the ASBMR Annual Meeting or another meeting), the two (or more) entities co-plan the event and co-select the speakers and topics.
9. The ASBMR Annual Meeting Official Program does not include Industry-Supported Symposia and Working Groups, which are part of the Ancillary Program. These sessions are held in conjunction with the ASBMR Annual Meeting, and can only be advertised using this language.
10. Programs and speakers for the Ancillary Program events are selected by their respective organizers and must be approved by the ASBMR Ancillary Program.
11. All Industry-Supported and other Symposia — like all Official Program sessions — must comply with ACCME guidelines, disclose in written materials all speaker conflicts and/or appearances of conflict, and disseminate, and collect and provide evaluation forms or summary to ASBMR. ASBMR will report complaints regarding undue corporate influence in its Official and/or Ancillary Program to the CME-provider.

ASBMR Corporate Advisory Board

12. ASBMR instituted a Corporate Advisory Board (CAB) in 2001 to provide a forum to address common interests and concerns, and to work together to achieve common goals. Biannual meetings are held to share information commonly available on publicly released materials (such as support opportunities and notices of planned events).
13. In 2003 ASBMR invited all companies thought to have an interest in bone and mineral research to join the CAB. CAB members pay annual dues and receive invitations to biannual lunches. All companies are eligible to participate in the ASBMR’s CAB, subject to payment of dues, selection of representatives, and attendance at meetings.

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