Conflict of Interest: Financial Interest Disclosure

All Investigators and researchers who are Covered Individuals must disclose Significant Financial Interests (SFI) and other outside activities as defined by HOP 7-1210 Promoting Objectivity in Research by Managing, Reducing or Eliminating Conflicts of Interest and HOP 5-2011 Conflict of Interest, Conflict of Commitment, and Outside Activities. A Covered Individual is a researcher who has the authority to make independent decisions related to the design, conduct, or reporting of University Research.

Disclosures must be made in the UT Research Management Suite COI Module (UTRMS-COI). UT faculty and professional research staff are required to:

• Complete or Update their Disclosure Profile in UTRMS-COI. Notifications will be sent by email with a link to the UTRMS-COI module when disclosure is required:
  • within 30 days of initial employment,
  • prior to the submission of an application for funding,
  • when identified as a covered individual on an IRB proposal,
  • at least annually, and
  • within 30 days of acquisition of a new activity requiring disclosure.
• Certify that their Disclosure Profile is accurate and complete whenever a new research project is funded or a new IRB protocol is submitted.

Instructions for completing/updating the Disclosure Profile can be found here.

Transition to UTRMS-COI

UT Austin is transitioning to a new disclosure system, UTRMS-COI. Phase 1, which launched June 27, 2022, involves all faculty and other researchers. The system will send email invitations to individuals when the initial disclosure is required. Entry into the system is not possible without an invitation. Read more about when notifications are sent.

COI Review Process

The Outside Activities office reviews proposed research activities (at time of award and/or time of IRB protocol submission) and communicates with the investigator, as necessary, to determine if there is a disclosed financial interest that presents a conflict of interest with the investigator’s research activities. This process may involve the Objectivity in Research Committee for complex conflict situations. When potential or perceived financial conflict(s) of interest are identified, the COI team works with the investigator to manage the conflict of interest.

See a flow diagram of the SFI disclosure and review process.

Resources

• Applicability: Who is a Covered Individual?
• Summary of Disclosure Requirements
• Requirements for Non-UT Collaborators
  
• FCOI Management Plans
• Reporting COIs in PHS-Funded Research

Related Policies and Procedures

• HOP 7-1210: Promoting Objectivity in Research by Managing, Reducing or Eliminating Conflicts of Interest
• HOP 5-2011: Conflict of Interest, Conflict of Commitment, and Outside Activities
• UT System Policy UTS175: Disclosure of Significant Financial Interests and Management and Reporting of Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research
• UT System Policy UTS180: Conflicts of Interest, Conflicts of Commitment, and Outside Activities