Financial Conflicts of Interest

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Disclosure System

All UW investigators must disclose whether or not they have significant financial interest (SFI) for every funding proposal via the Financial Interest Disclosure System (FIDS).

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FCOI Training

In addition to disclosing significant financial interests (SFI), PHS-funded investigators must also complete FCOI training once every 4 years.

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What is a Financial Conflict of Interest?

Conflicts of interest in research may occur when outside financial interests compromise, or have the appearance of compromising, the professional judgment of a researcher when designing, conducting, or reporting research.

The UW's Financial Conflict of Interest Policy (GIM-10) seeks to maintain the appropriate balance among all competing interests that have the potential to produce bias in the design, conduct, or reporting of the research or distort technology transfer transactions.

How has the policy changed?

The UW's FCOI policy is effective August 24, 2012 and corresponds with the 2011 Public Health Service revised financial conflict of interest (FCOI) regulations (42 CFR 50). These regulations apply to any institution receiving funds from a PHS entity.

What are my responsibilities?

All UW Investigators

  • Submit disclosures through the Financial Interest Disclosure System (FIDS).
  • Understand that the minimum monetary threshold for reporting an SFI will be lowered from $10,000 to $5,000, with a $0 threshold for disclosure of equity in a non-publicly traded company.

PHS-funded Investigators

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Who is an investigator?

The definition of an "investigator" includes the Principal Investigator (PI) and any other person (regardless of title or position) that the PI identifies as independently responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of the research.

Resources

Policy