Conflict of Interest and Research

A conflict of interest exists where a researcher’s outside interests or activities could improperly affect, or give the appearance of affecting, the researcher’s activities at Columbia.

The University Senate approved a University-wide Policy on Financial Conflicts of Interest and Research, which took effect on July 1, 2009. An appendix concerning conflict of interest reporting and recordkeeping for research funded by the U.S. Public Health Service is available here.  Columbia's Policy has not yet been updated to reflect NIH's revised regulations on the Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research, issued on August 25, 2011.

An Appendix of Examples regarding the Policy is available here. A new FAQ regarding startup companies is available here. Answers to other Frequently Asked Questions are available here.  You can link here to view other University resources related to conflict of interest.  For training concerning the Policy, click here or go to the Rascal Training Center.

Disclosure

University officers are required to report to the University any outside financial interest or commitment (including those of family members) that could give rise to a conflict of interest. The University requires all officers of instruction and officers of research to complete an annual Financial Interest Report through Rascal, the University’s on-line research compliance system, and to update the annual disclosure throughout the year as appropriate. The form solicits information concerning outside activities and financial interests as they relate to an individual's research activities and other responsibilities at the University. The Committee on Financial Conflicts of Interest and Research reviews cases where there is a potential conflict of interest that relates to research. 

To file a Financial Interest Report, click here or go to Rascal and select "Conflict of Interest."

For faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S), the annual disclosure statement contains additional questions relating to the P&S Education and Clinical Care Policy.  This policy is administered by the P&S Office of Academic Affairs.  For questions about the P&S Education and Clinical Care Policy, please contact the P&S Office of Academic Affairs at ps-coi@columbia.edu or (212) 305-4601, or visit

http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/faculty/COI/.

Research with Human Subjects

Personnel who plan to participate in the design, conduct or reporting of human subjects research must submit individual, protocol-specific conflict of interest disclosure forms. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) will not give final approval to any protocol until all conflicts of interest have been reviewed by the appropriate conflict of interest committee and addressed to the satisfaction of both that committee and the IRB. 

Sponsored Project Proposals

Before any grant application may be submitted by Sponsored Projects Administration, the principal investigator must certify that all individuals listed on the grant have completed a current conflict of interest disclosure form. Sponsored Projects Administration will not submit any applications until all individuals have completed their forms.  In addition, Sponsored Projects Administration will not set up sponsored project accounts unless current Financial Interest Reports are on file in Rascal and potential conflicts have been resolved.

Questions about conflict of interest issues can be addressed to Michael Klein in the Office of Research Compliance and Training.