Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of Interest Committee

The Conflicts of Interest Committee consists of two committees (C&D) that review potential conflicts in research.  Committee C reviews Health Science Center proposals and protocols and Committee D reviews main campus proposals and protocols.  However, either committee may refer any case to the other committee for consultation.  The HSC Committee C meets once per month.  Each committee is comprised of 10 voting members appointed by the Provost that are faculty members and administrative officials with financial responsibilities.

The Committee considers that most conflicts can be successfully resolved or managed as to not impede research activities.  There are three methods by which the Committee reviews a potential conflict:

  1. Committee reviewed: A particular investigator’s potential conflict which has never been reviewed by Committee deliberation or a potential conflict previously reviewed that now has additional elements of complexity.
  2. Administratively reviewed: An investigator’s potential conflict that has been previously reviewed by Committee deliberation that remains unchanged or a potential conflict that has one element of complexity.
  3. Electronic vote: An investigator’s potential conflict that was tabled during Committee deliberation due to insufficient information can later be voted on electronically by Committee members after information is received so as to not delay a decision until the next Committee meeting.