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The increasing involvement of academic researchers, research teams and educators with industry and private entrepreneurial ventures has raised the potential for conflict of interest. These conflicts arise from an individual’s opportunities to benefit financially from the outcome of his/her research or other activities conducted as a University researcher, educator, or as part of a University research team.

In order to comply with the University of Miami’s conflict of interest (COI) in Research policy, all investigators (anyone who could be involved in the design, conduct or reporting of sponsored activities) are required to complete the following components:

Complete an online training entitled “Conflict of Interest Course” on the nature of (COI's) and on the University’s specific COI updated policy and procedures. To ensure investigators can complete the required training as efficiently and conveniently as possible, the University is employing the CITI Program which is accessible online at any time. Users should plan to allot about 15 minutes for each of the three training modules. Directions on how to update your C number and complete the required COI CITI training are available on the CITI section of the UDisclose website.

Disclose their interests to UM. Each Investigator must disclose activities and financial interests related to his/her institutional responsibilities through the UDisclose System. Our UDisclose webpage contains additional information and answers to frequently asked questions to help users maneuver through the system.

University Policies & Resources

COI in Research Policy

The University of Miami COI in Research policy is designed to promote objectivity in research, scholarly and educational activities funded under external grants, contracts or cooperative agreements. By requiring the review of disclosures of interests made by our investigators (faculty, trainees, students, staff and subcontractors) relating to their institutional responsibilities, the policy establishes standards that provide a reasonable expectation that the design, conduct, and reporting of such activities will be free from bias resulting from individual financial and obligatory conflicts of interest.

Disclosures & Relationship Management

The role of Disclosures & Relationship Management (DRM) and the UM COI Committee (COIC) is to determine whether an investigator’s relationship with an external entity creates a situation that could introduce bias into a research project conducted at UM or by UM investigators, and, where this occurs, to manage it. Click the link below to see examples of relationships that the COIC may consider as a potential COI, and a description of components that, based on the nature of the COI, describes stipulations that could be included in COI management plans in order to mitigate the COI.

Training

Conflict of Interest Seminars

The DRM offers seminars on COI in research. Discussion focuses on the federal policies that apply to research and externally funded scholarly activities performed at UM. Additional information including a schedule of seminars to be held on the Gables, Medical and RSMAS campuses can be found in the ULearn System (keyword search “conflict of interest").

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) site offers web-based training in multiple areas of research compliance and ethics.

COI Resources

COI Guidelines

COI Key Personnel

Sponsored Programs Policies

Contacts and Additional Resources

Under the purview of the Vice Provost for Research, the Office of Disclosures & Relationship Management (DRM) provides administrative support for the University of Miami COI Committee, as well as management of the UDisclose System.

If you have specific questions or would like to arrange a presentation for your group on UM’s COI in Research policy and disclosure review process, please contact Dr. Lory Hayes, Director of DRM, or call the UDisclose System helpline (305-243-0877).