Conflicts-of-Interest

What is Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest occurs when there is a divergence between an individual’s private interests and his or her professional obligations to the University such that an independent observer might reasonably question whether the individual’s professional actions or decisions are determined by considerations of personal financial gain.

Such situations do NOT necessarily imply wrong-doing or inappropriate activities. However, in a research university setting, they can compromise, or be perceived as compromising, important academic values, research integrity, or the university mission.

It is important to consider how such competing interests could become a problem and how they should be disclosed and managed. By disclosing and working with WU administration, faculty, staff and students can work toward viable management plans that support the conduct of research in an ethical manner.

Individual Conflicts of Interest

Financial Conflict of Interest

Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI): a financial conflict of interest exists when it is reasonably determined that a personal financial interest could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct, or reporting of research.

Conflict of Commitment

Conflict of Commitment involves a situation in which an employee engages in an outside activity that interferes, or appears to interfere, with fulfillment of the employee’s obligations to the University, even if the outside activity is valuable to the University or contributes to the employee’s professional development and competence.

Institutional Conflict of Interest

An institutional conflict of interest (“ICOI”) may include situations in which the financial interests of an institution or an institutional official, acting within his or her authority on behalf of the institution, may affect or appear to affect the research, education, clinical care or other activities of the institution. ICOI’s are of particular concern when financial interests create the potential for inappropriate influence over the institution’s research activities, where the integrity of the institution’s research and the welfare of human research participants may actually be, or reasonably appear to be, compromised or injured by the conflicting financial interest.

Disclosure and Management – Policies and Procedures

“Covered individuals” affiliated with Washington University shall complete disclosure statements as outlined in the Washington University Individual Conflict of Interest Policy.

For a definition of “covered individuals” and more about the COI policy, visit the Individual (Research) Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Timing of Disclosures information is available on the OVCR website.