Update on Revised Policies on Individual Conflicts of Interest and Institutional Conflicts of Interest

The Case Western Reserve University Faculty Senate and Board of Trustees have approved a revised conflict of interest policy. The policy, which takes effect Aug. 24, was updated to comply with revised Public Health Service (PHS) regulations. Changes to the PHS regulations include:

• A lowered threshold for what is considered a “significant financial interest,” from $10,000 to $5,000 per year in remuneration from an outside entity.
• Required disclosure of travel sponsored by non-governmental and non-higher educational entities (for PHS-funded investigators).
• Enhanced requirements for the university to report financial conflicts of interests of PHS-funded investigators (e.g., providing additional detail to the Department of Health and Human Services and responding to any meaningful inquiry within five days).

Download the new CWRU policies. To learn more, join Associate Vice President for Research Suzanne Rivera and the Conflict of Interests Committee at one of several information sessions designed to provide guidance to the university community, and particularly to faculty and staff engaged in research. The sessions are offered multiple times to provide numerous opportunities to attend. Register online for one of the following dates in 2012:

• Wednesday, Sept. 12, 9–10 a.m., Wolstein Research Building, Room 1413
• Thursday, Oct. 4, noon–1 p.m., Toepfer Room, Adelbert Hall
• Monday, Oct. 15, 1–2 p.m., Biomedical Research Building, Room 105

Register online at oraseminars.case.edu. For specific instructions on how to submit your annual Outside Financial Interest Disclosure to the Conflict of Interests Committee or for more information, visit the Conflict of Interests Office website.