BU’s research conflict of interest disclosure process has transitioned to Huron COI as of March 2023.

Find tutorials and updated procedures for the new system below. Please watch our overview video, review FAQs, or email coi@bu.edu with any questions or issues.

Financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) 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. FCOIs are not inherently bad and do not always lead to biased behavior.

Review the policies and information below to become familiar with federal requirements, university policy, and actions required from BU investigators.

Are you an investigator at Boston Medical Center (BMC)? The information below is for researchers at Boston University. BMC investigators working on BMC research must disclose through the BMC Compliance Department’s web-based system, COI-Smart. Please contact BMC’s Compliance Department at COI-Compliance@bmc.org to gain access.


Disclosure Procedures

Step One: Complete a Financial Interest Disclosure

  • Have questions? Review FAQs about the Huron system or contact the COI Program if you have trouble accessing or completing your disclosure profile.

    Step Two: Complete Financial Conflicts of Interest Training

    • Investigators engaging or planning to engage in Public Health Service (PHS) and/or Department of Energy (DOE) funded research must complete financial conflict of interest training on investigator responsibilities prior to engaging in PHS- and/or DOE-funded research and at least once every four (4) years.

      Step Three: FCOI Committee Review

      • When a significant financial interest may be related to the research, the Faculty Review Committee on Research FCOIs will review the research project.
      • When the Committee identifies a financial conflict of interest, it will submit a proposed management plan to the Associate Vice President for Research Compliance (AVPRC).

      Step Four: Management Plans

      • The AVPRC will make the final determination on how to manage the FCOI and will accept, reject, or modify the Review Committee’s recommendation.
      • The Investigator must comply with any management plan imposed by BU and upon receipt of the determination, the Investigator must either accept or submit an appeal. Funding will be held until the Investigator agrees to comply with the final management plan.

      Guidance

      How to Disclose

      Who Discloses

      What to Disclose

      When to Disclose

      Why Disclose


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