15.01.03.I1 Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research

2.1 In accordance with System Regulation 15.01.03 and federal law, the COI Official will review all financial disclosure statements by Investigators and determine whether any disclosed Significant Financial Interest (SFI) is related to the Investigator’s research or research activities and whether an FCOI exists. If an FCOI exists, the COI Official will notify the Investigator in writing and work with the Investigator to develop a Management Plan specifying the actions that will be taken to manage, reduce or eliminate the FCOI. All FCOIs identified by the COI Official will be satisfactorily managed, reduced or eliminated prior to the expenditure of any sponsored research funds or prior to the start of an unfunded Research Activity.

2.2 If an Investigator disagrees with the COI Official’s determination on whether an FCOI exists, the Investigator may appeal the COI Official’s determination to the CEO or designee in writing within ten business days after receiving the COI Official’s determination. The decision of the CEO or designee is final.

5.1 The COI Official shall ensure that this rule is available through a publicly accessible website.

5.2 If the COI Official determines that a Financial Conflict of Interest exists that is related to PHS-funded research, the COI Official shall coordinate with the public information officer to make the following information available in writing to any requestor within five business days after receipt of a request, so long as the Investigator still holds the SFI:

1. The name of the Investigator;
2. The title and role of the Investigator in relation to the affected research;
3. The name of the entity in which the SFI is held;
4. A description of the SFI that was determined to be an FCOI; and
5. The approximate dollar value of the SFI. If the dollar value cannot be determined by reference to publicly available prices or another reasonable method, the system member shall include a statement to that effect. Dollar values may be provided within ranges, e.g., $0-$4,999; $5,000-$10,000; $10,000-$20,000; $20,000-$50,000; $50,000-$100,000. Amounts over $100,000 may be stated in increments of $50,000.

5.3 For all public information requests related to non-PHS funded research, the COI Official shall coordinate with the public information officer to ensure that responses to requests comply with Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, and state and federal law.

5.4 Information required under this section must remain available to any requestor for the longer of three years after the date of the last expenditure on the research project or as required by applicable federal law.