Financial Conflict of Interest

A Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI)  in research and sponsored programs occurs when a researcher's or Principal Investigator's (PI's) personal financial interests, such as consulting fees, stock ownership, or other financial benefits, could influence or appear to influence the design, conduct, or reporting of research. Such conflicts may compromise the integrity, objectivity, and credibility of research findings if they are not properly disclosed and managed. To promote transparency and ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements, researchers and PIs are required to complete a FCOI disclosure form annually and update it whenever a significant financial interest changes. Annual disclosure and appropriate conflict management help protect research participants, maintain public trust, and preserve the integrity of sponsored research. 

 A Significant Financial Interest occurs when a financial interest consisting of one or more of the following interests of a key personnel (and those of the Investigator's spouse and dependent children) that reasonably appears to be related to the investigator's institutional responsibilities: (i) if the value of any remuneration received from the entity in the twelve months preceding the disclosure and the value of any equity interest in the entity as of the date of disclosure, when aggregated, exceeds $5,000 (or the lower amount required by a sponsor); (ii) if the Investigator (or the Investigator's spouse or dependent children) holds any equity interest (e.g., stock, stock option, or other ownership interest) and receive income, when aggregated, exceeds $5,000 (or the lower amount required by a sponsor); (iii) if income is received related to intellectual property rights and interests (e.g., patents, copyrights); or (iv) if any reimbursed or sponsored travel  related to their institutional responsibilities.