It is in the interest of government entities, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and corporations to adhere to ethical principles and promote objectivity in research. Establishing standards of conduct and procedures to eliminate any conflict of interest that might impact the design, conduct, or reporting of research accomplishes this. Objectivity of researchers is an essential value in scientific research and must be maintained in order for the general public to trust in the findings, rather than other interests that might undermine the integrity of the science. The case study of Jesse Gelsinger illustrates the concepts of objectivity, ethics, and conflict of interest. In 1999, 17-year-old Jesse suffered from a rare genetic disease and volunteered for a gene therapy experiment at the Institute of Human Gene Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. Four days after the injection, he died and a subsequent investigation ensued. It was found that the adverse effects of the treatment on experimental animals had been withheld from Jesse and his parents, leading them to believe the risks were lower than they actually were. The lead scientist at the Institute had a financial interest in the adenovirus vector that was injected, and potentially would have benefited financially had the therapy worked. This financial connection brought into question his objectivity as to whether he could have made sound decisions about an experiment he was hoping would be a financial windfall for him personally. The investigation led to changes in university policies regarding human subjects in research, the extent of disclosure in relation to informed consent, and conflicts of interest among investigators.