Examples of Disclosable COI/Cs

Conflicts of interest in research or sponsored programs are those conflicts that might influence an individual’s thinking and have an impact on the research outcome.

Situation: An investigator is conducting research involving the testing and comparison of commercially available products. The sole supplier of one of the products is an immediate family member of the investigator.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? The investigator’s family member stands to gain financially if the research finds that the family member’s product is superior to others in the market. Thus, the inclusion of the family member’s product in the testing protocol may raise questions about the integrity of the research.

Situation:  An investigator accepts gratuities or special favors from a company sponsoring their research. 

Why could this be perceived as a conflict of interest? This may create the appearance that an investigator may adjust the outcome of the research to benefit the sponsor due to the receipt of the gratuity or special favor.

Situation: A faculty member is appointed to an officer position of a company. The position requires 30 hours a week to perform the duties of the position.  

Why could this be perceived as a conflict of commitment? The time that will be devoted to the external activity is substantial and it appears that it may compromise the amount or quality of their participation in instruction, research/scholarship, service and other institutional responsibilities to the University.

Situation: The spouse of a university employee owns a printing business. The employee’s department needs a brochure. The employee suggests that their spouse’s company has the ability to complete the brochure.  

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? Employee’s may not influence business decisions of the university in a way that could result in personal or family gain.

Situation: A university professor requires students to purchase a textbook from which the instructor will receive royalties.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? Requiring the purchase of the item raises questions about whether the item is being required because of its appropriateness for the class or because of the financial benefit to the professor. The professor should determine if there is an alternate textbook that could be selected. If not, either the price of the academic materials should be reduced, or the royalties should be used for a philanthropic purpose within the university, such as scholarships.

Situation: An investigator’s family member owns a company that sells a piece of equipment that the investigator would like to use in their research. The company decides to loan the equipment to the University for “free” in return for an agreement that the investigator evaluate the equipment and report their evaluation back to the company.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? Donations of equipment to the university, although seemingly free, can result in other costs and obligations and are therefore governed by rules similar to those pertaining to purchases. If, for example, the only source of parts, and supplies to keep the equipment running is the company, the university would be forced to make repeated purchases from the company thereby financially benefiting the investigator’s family. Additionally, questions regarding the integrity of the evaluation could arise due to the fact that the investigator’s family member could financially benefit from the evaluation. The investigator should disclose.

Situation: A university employee is serving on the search committee to hire a new person into their department. Their spouse applies for the position.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? Because of their service on the search committee, the employee is in a position to influence the hiring decision. The employee should step down from the committee, or, at a minimum, recuse themselves from the hiring decision.

Situation: Two single employees in the same department or unit get married. After several years, one of them is promoted and has control over the employment status and salary increases of the other.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? Under Boise State University’s Nepotism policy, an employee may not be in a position to affect or influence the assignment of duties, work responsibilities, compensation, hours, performance evaluations, career progress, promotion, tenure, benefits, or other terms and conditions of employment of a Family Member. The employee should disclose this to their supervisor, and human resources. Generally, these types of situations are resolved by transferring oversight responsibilities to another employee. If the conflict is not resolved, a conflict of interest disclosure must also be submitted.

Situation: An investigator has a position available for a graduate student to work on an NSF funded project. Their daughter is a graduate student in their area of research and they appoint their daughter to the position of graduate research assistant on the NSF project.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? An investigator is responsible to conduct the sponsored project activities to complete the scope of work, including hiring, assigning duties, evaluating, and terminating project staff. However, these activities must be done in accordance with University and State policies and regulations. Therefore, this situation would require compliance with the University’s nepotism policy and as such the investigator should disclose and seek prior approval from their supervisor and Human Resources. Alternate arrangements for the selection of the graduate research assistant and assignment of duties will be required.

Situation: An employee, on their own time, consults for a company that develops and sells products related to the employee’s research. Because of the employee’s expertise, the company decides to give the employee a grant to conduct research of interest to the company.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest? Accepting sponsored funding from a company for which one also consults, whether paid or unpaid, is considered a conflict of interest because of the perception that the desire to maintain the consulting relationship may prejudice the outcome of the research. The employee must disclose.

Situation: An employee consults for an external entity from their university office during their normal working hours. They use their university computer, phone, and email account.

Why could this be perceived to be a conflict of interest and commitment? Limited consulting during normal working hours can be acceptable, as long as it is approved by the employee’s supervisor. However, employees are prohibited from using University personnel, laboratories, space, services, equipment, or intellectual property in connection with outside employment without prior written authorization. The employee must disclose.