The price of mistrust: the impact of a medical ethics scandal on scientific capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa
研究2000年尼日利亚北部临床试验伦理丑闻如何导致社区对外国药企不信任，进而抑制当地科研产出，尤其影响医学研究者，并指出社区信任是科学发展的关键。
This study investigates how negative news alleging ethical misconduct in clinical trials can hinder scientific development in emerging economies. We examine a 2000 exposé surrounding a clinical trial conducted in Northern Nigeria, leading to decades of community mistrust in foreign pharmaceutical companies. By comparing scientific output of researchers in affected and less affected regions, we find a significant decline in publication growth, particularly for medical researchers. An exploration of the mechanisms suggests that eroded community support and participation in research and reduced international collaboration contributed to this slowdown. This study highlights the importance of the science-community relationship in fostering scientific development. Our findings imply that a ’social li- cense to operate’ grounded in community trust is essential for scientific progress, and that future research on the determinants of scientific capacity in developing countries should consider community attitudes and involvement.