Virginia Commonwealth University, a state-funded school, signed a restriction-laden deal in 2006 to do research for tobacco firm Philip Morris but never publicized the arrangement, the New York Times reported May 22.

The contract between the university and Philip Morris prohibits researchers from publishing the results of their studies or discussing their work without permission from the company. Almost all patent and intellectual-property rights associated with the research belong to the tobacco firm. School officials are required to decline comment on the research if questioned by the media.

"There is restrictive language in here," said Francis L. Macrina, Virginia Commonwealth's vice president for research. "In the end, it was language we thought we could agree to. It's a balancing act."

Macrina refused to say how much money Philip Morris is paying to the school for the restricted research, although the tobacco firm gave at least $1.3 million to Virginia Commonwealth in 2007.

"When universities sign contracts with these covenants, they are basically giving up their ethos, compromising their values as a university," said Sheldon Krimsky of Tufts University, an expert on corporate influence on medical research. "There should be no debate about having a sponsor with control over the publishing of results."

Rick Solana, senior vice president for research and technology at Philip Morris, said the university is being paid to study the early warning signs of pulmonary disease and that the funding reflected the company's focus on developing so-called "reduced risk" products. Solana added that Philip Morris has similar contracts and confidentiality arrangements with other schools, but would not identify them.

Macrina acknowledged that the deal with Philip Morris violated the school's own rules regarding research projects -- including one that states that "university faculty and students must be free to publish their results" -- but nonetheless defended the arrangement. "These restrictive clauses seek to protect the rights and interests of multiple parties in the agreement," Macrina said.