An analysis of links to the fossil fuel industry in medical research publications reveals a case for stronger action against the influence of these health harming companies, find Hristio Boytchev and colleagues An investigation by The BMJ shows the extent of the fossil fuel industry’s involvement in medical research, leading to fresh calls for academics and publishing companies to cut ties with such companies. Over the past six years more than 180 articles in medical publications or medical articles in other publications have acknowledged funding by the fossil fuel industry, and an additional 1000 articles have authors who worked for a fossil fuel company or related organisation, The BMJ ’s analysis found. Many studies don’t have an obvious link with fossil fuel industry interests, but experts speaking to The BMJ say that publishing research benefits the companies by enhancing their reputation and buying influence among researchers and health practitioners. Some of the papers cover topics related to environmental health effects or that might relate to workforce health issues. David McCoy, a research lead at the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health in Malaysia, says the issue is particularly charged for doctors and public health professionals because of the health effects of the climate emergency. Collaborations with academia give industry a “social licence to continue and behave in the way that they behave,” he says. “Fossil fuel industries are very politically active,” he adds. “They lobby governments. They have a huge amount of power in shaping energy policy and industrial policy.” A previous investigation by The BMJ found that the fossil fuel industry has funnelled billions of dollars to academia in a decades long effort to weaken messages on climate.1 A recent review found that “universities are an established yet under-researched vehicle of climate obstruction by the fossil …