Education Module
Conflicts of Interest

Introduction

Conflicts of interest are a serious matter and must be given due attention.  This module highlights why conflicts of interest matter and who they apply to.

What is a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest is any financial interest that has the potential to compromise or bias the professional judgment or objectivity of the holder of the interest OR has the appearance of having the potential to compromise or bias the professional judgment or objectivity of the holder of the interest.

Why Does This Matter?

Conflicts of interest can…

1. Jeopardize public faith in research findings if there is belief that the investigator is acting in his/her own best interests
2. Damage the University's and investigator's reputations
3. Reduce the public's willingness to participate in clinical research if the perception is that research is compromised
4. Inhibit or delay funding
5. Inhibit or delay discoveries if less support is available for research
6. Decrease the ability to attract and retain top faculty and students if reputational damage has occurred.

In addition…

1. A conflict of interest can exist when there is no allegation that an individual actually acted improperly
2. The threshold relates to the appearance and possibilities
3. The National Institutes of Health considers an investigator's opportunity for personal gain to be “intrinsically unacceptable”

Both conflicts of interest and potential conflicts of interest must be managed.

Conflict of Interest: General Rule

A conflict of interest always involves the appearance of actual use of an individual's authority for personal and/or financial gain.

Who Does this Apply To?

Conflicts of interest apply to all academic appointees, including part-time and visiting faculty, faculty who are neither tenured nor on tenure-track appointments, lecturers and academic specialists.  Conflicts of interest also apply to students and anyone else who is involved in the design, conduct, or reporting of research and retired faculty to the extent that they are still actively performing research, teaching, or providing services under the auspices of the University.

Question & Answer

This question and answer section is designed to test your knowledge of audits in clinical research.  Answers are provided so that you can ensure you know the right answer.  No credit is given for completing these questions.

Question 1
Do potential conflicts of interest need to be managed?
Answer: Yes, both potential and actual conflicts of interest must be managed according to the institution's conflict of interest policy.

Question 2
Question: Do conflict of interest policies apply to students conducting research?
Answer: Yes, if the student is involved in the design, conduct, or reporting of research.

Additional Resources

Brown University Conflict of Interest Policy for Officers of Instruction and Research.  Available at:  http://research.brown.edu/policies/coidisclosure.php.

Acknowledgements

This module was adapted from a power point presentation available at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences website.  The original power point is available at: http://www.indianactsi.org/coordinators/pastmeetings.