Conflicts of interest (COI) in research may occur when an investigator's private interests (such as outside professional or financial relationships) may compete with his or her professional obligations to UNM.

Conflicts of interest are inevitable part of conducting research and do not necessarily suggest any impropriety on the part of the principal investigator. Most conflicts can be successfully resolved without impeding research activities. A COI may exist despite the principal investigator's adherence to the highest standards of conduct. In a research university setting these interests can compromise, or be perceived as compromising important academic values, research integrity, the protection of human subjects or the University mission. >> more

News and Events

The Department of Health and Human Services has published the Final Rule revising Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) regulations (42 CFR Part 50 Subpart F for grants and cooperative agreements and 45 CFR Part 94 for contracts). The changes from the 1995 regulations focus on Investigators' disclosure requirements of Significant Financial Interests, Institutions' reporting and management of identified Financial Conflicts of Interest, and public accessibility of information regarding certain Investigator Financial Conflicts of Interest.

The Final Rule requires Institutions to be in full compliance with the revised regulations no later than one year from publication of the rule, and immediately upon making their FCOI policies publicly accessible. DHHS is aware that it will take some time to develop and implement new policies. DHHS will also be working to update our electronic systems to capture additional reported information and to train staff on the revised regulations.

:: summary of major changes