Conflict of Interest in Research and Scholarly Activity Policy

This policy has been developed by the University of Massachusetts in response to specific federal agency requirements and is applicable to every investigator participating in PHS or NSF funded research. Each investigator covered by this policy will annually report all "significant financial interests" held by themselves, their spouse and dependent children. "Significant Financial Interest" is defined as anything of monetary value, including but not limited to, salary or other payments for services (e.g. consulting fees or honoraria); equity interests (e.g. stocks, stock options or other ownership interests); and intellectual property rights (e.g. patents, copyrights and royalties from such rights), which would reasonably appear to be affected by the research to be funded. This definition specifically excludes financial interests in business enterprises or entities if the value of such interests does not exceed ten thousand dollars per annum in salary, fees or other continuing payments; ten thousand dollars fair market value equity interests; or represent more than a five percent ownership interest for any one enterprise or entity when aggregated for the investigator and the investigator's spouse and dependent children. Disclosures will be made by use of the Disclosure of Significant Financial Interest form and sent to the Department Chair's office on an annual basis and when new significant financial interests are acquired. A Financial Disclosure Form must be completed prior to the submission of an application for a PHS or NSF grant of cooperative agreement.

 Last Updated On: 6/6/06