Can a clinical investigator who owns stock in the sponsoring company conduct a trial for that company?

In the context of clinical trials, the issue of conflicts of interest is critical to maintaining the integrity of the research process. A clinical investigator holding stock in a sponsoring company can indeed conduct a trial for that company, provided that this financial interest is disclosed to the relevant parties, such as the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and study participants. Transparency is key in these situations; disclosure allows for proper evaluation and management of potential biases that may arise due to the investigator's financial stake in the company's success.

The emphasis on disclosure reflects ethical standards in clinical research, where the goal is to balance the interests of advancing medical knowledge with the need to protect participant welfare and maintain trust in the research process. By disclosing financial interests, appropriate measures can be put in place to mitigate any potential influence the investigator’s ownership stakes may have on the trial's conduct or outcomes.