U of M gets extension to respond to Grassley
The University of Minnesota has been granted an extension until the end of the month to respond to a pointed letter from Congress about its conflict-of-interest policies for medical school faculty.
In his letter, Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa takes aim at U of M spinal surgeon David Polly. He has been paid more than $1 million since 2003 by medical-device maker Medtronic.
Among other things, Grassley alleges that in 2006 Polly testified before a Senate committee without disclosing that he was being paid by Medtronic.
Polly says he has never hidden his relationship with Medtronic and has followed all the university's disclosure rules.
Grassley set a deadline of Aug. 7 for the university's response, but has since granted the university's request to extend it.
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