Conflicts of Interest

1. What best defines a significant financial interest?

Equity holdings in a relevant company with greater than or equal to 5%. (NB: A relevant company is one either sponsoring the research or one that could benefit from the results of the research).

Annual income from a relevant company that is greater than or equal to $10,000.

Annual income greater than or equal to $10,000 from a relevant company and equity holdings greater than or equal to 5% in a relevant company.

Equity holdings greater than or equal to 5% in a relevant company or an annual income from a relevant company that is greater than or equal to $10,000. If both, the combination would need to be greater than or equal to $10,000.

2. The best practice for institutions is to base their conflict of interest policies on the significant financial interest policy of the National Science Foundation.

True

False

3. The disclosure of a conflict of interest is required for:

The P.I. only.

The PI and anyone having a decision-making authority over the conduct of the sponsored project.

All personnel receiving compensation on an NSF or PHS award.

4. The conflict of interest disclosure policy applies only to the faculty member and his/her interests.

True

False

5. The process of a faculty member disclosing a conflict of interest is accomplished by:

Submitting a disclosure form with every proposal regardless of sponsor as may be determined by institutional policy.

Identifying the conflict in a proposal and having peer review determine its impact on the award.

Submitting a disclosure form to the chair of the department for his/her resolution.

6. Which of the following conflict of interest management strategies would not be appropriate?

Require the faculty member to terminate membership on a relevant company's Scientific Advisory Board and/or any other consulting relationships with that company, even if the company is not sponsoring the research.

Prohibit the faculty member from conducting research funded by companies for which he/she is a paid consultant directly.

Require the faculty member to divest of the financial interest by giving all interest to an immediate family member.

7. A faculty member consulting one day a week and using any institutional resources on his/her consulting work is considered to be a conflict of commitment.

True

False