The Governance of Evidence: Commercial Influences on the Public Understanding of Science and Evidence
4:45pm - 6:00pm /
Thursday 2nd July 2026
/ Venue: SLSJ Event Space School of Law & Social Justice
Type: Lecture /
Category: Department
- Law and Social Justice
- Admission: Free to register.
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Lecture by Professor Mark Petticrew
The Governance of Evidence: Commercial Influences on the Public Understanding of Science and Evidence
Co-chairs: Professor Amandine Garde and Dr May Van Schalkwyk
Abstract
Research on the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDOH) shows that one of the key strategies of many commercial actors is to co-opt and shape our very understanding of evidence and science, as a way of preventing regulation, and shifting blame for product harms to consumers. This is part of the ‘scientific strategy’ which is described in the Lancet series on the CDOH. The strategy goes well beyond just influencing science through funding – but in some cases it also seeks to influence how we think about fundamental issues like ‘science’, ‘expertise’ - and ‘evidence’ itself. There are many examples of this from different industries, such as attempts to create industry ‘guidelines’ for researchers on how to ‘do’ research, and guidelines for policymakers on how to ‘use’ research. Political actors increasingly engage in the same strategies – as can seen in the US (e.g. Project 25), so this is an area where the harmful political and commercial determinants often converge. This presentation will discuss some of these challenges, and some of the solutions, which include the need to robustly defend the independence of science and evidence.
Mark Petticrew is Professor of Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). He is Director of the NIHR Public Health Policy Research Unit, and co-Director of the LSHTM Commercial Determinants Research Group.
His main research interests are in evidence-based policymaking, and health inequalities. His research has a particular focus on the commercial determinants of health – in particular, the influence of unhealthy commodity industries on health (e.g. through the promotion of tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy foods, and gambling and other products). Recent research includes analyses of misinformation disseminated by industry corporate social responsibility (CSR) bodies, and the common “playbook” which is used across these and other industries, including pharma, tech and digital media industries. He is a producer with May van Schalkwyk of the documentary Unmasking Influence: How commercial actors influence policy and public health.
The Governance of Evidence: Commercial Influences on the Public Understanding of Science and Evidence
Co-chairs: Professor Amandine Garde and Dr May Van Schalkwyk
Abstract
Research on the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDOH) shows that one of the key strategies of many commercial actors is to co-opt and shape our very understanding of evidence and science, as a way of preventing regulation, and shifting blame for product harms to consumers. This is part of the ‘scientific strategy’ which is described in the Lancet series on the CDOH. The strategy goes well beyond just influencing science through funding – but in some cases it also seeks to influence how we think about fundamental issues like ‘science’, ‘expertise’ - and ‘evidence’ itself. There are many examples of this from different industries, such as attempts to create industry ‘guidelines’ for researchers on how to ‘do’ research, and guidelines for policymakers on how to ‘use’ research. Political actors increasingly engage in the same strategies – as can seen in the US (e.g. Project 25), so this is an area where the harmful political and commercial determinants often converge. This presentation will discuss some of these challenges, and some of the solutions, which include the need to robustly defend the independence of science and evidence.
Mark Petticrew is Professor of Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). He is Director of the NIHR Public Health Policy Research Unit, and co-Director of the LSHTM Commercial Determinants Research Group.
His main research interests are in evidence-based policymaking, and health inequalities. His research has a particular focus on the commercial determinants of health – in particular, the influence of unhealthy commodity industries on health (e.g. through the promotion of tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy foods, and gambling and other products). Recent research includes analyses of misinformation disseminated by industry corporate social responsibility (CSR) bodies, and the common “playbook” which is used across these and other industries, including pharma, tech and digital media industries. He is a producer with May van Schalkwyk of the documentary Unmasking Influence: How commercial actors influence policy and public health.