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College Home / Research / Research and Grants Administration / Research Protections and Compliance / Financial Conflict of Interest

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Public Health Service (PHS)* require that investigators disclose to the College significant financial interests that may reasonably appear to be affected by the research being funded, i.e., where there is a risk of conflict of interest or serious appearance of conflict. 

*The components of the PHS include, but are not limited to, the Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Aging, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Occupational Health, Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, Indian Health Service, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

NSF Investigators*

1. Read the College's National Science Foundation (NSF) Financial Conflict of Interest Procedures.
2. Submit a Financial Interests Report eForm at the time of submission of the grant proposal and, if funded, at intervals specified by the grant.

PHS (NIH) Investigators*

1. Read the College's Public Health Service (PHS) Financial Conflict of Interest Procedures.
2. Complete the NIH Financial Conflict of Interest Training.
3. Submit a Financial Interests Report eForm at the time of submission of the grant proposal and, if funded, at intervals specified by the grant.

Non-College of Charleston Co-Investigators*

Contact our office for forms and procedures.

*Investigator is defined for the purposes of conflict of interest regulations as any individual named on a sponsored project that is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of the results of work performed.  This includes the principal investigator, co-investigator(s), and other individuals, including consultants, who have independent responsibility for accomplishing project objectives. 

Subrecipients

Collaborators, subawardees, subcontractors, or consortium members must either comply with this policy or provide a certification from their institutions that they are in compliance with Federal policies regarding investigator financial interest disclosure and that their portion of the project is in compliance with their institutional policies.

Examples of Financial Interests Related to a Sponsored Project or Research

• The organization in which an Investigator has a financial interest will manufacture or commercialize the drug, device, procedure, or any other product which will predictably result from the project.
• The results of the project would be relevant to the development, manufacturing, or improvement of the product or services of the organization in which an Investigator has a financial interest.
• The sponsored project will subcontract a portion of the work, lease property, or make purchases from an entity in which an investigator has a financial interest.
• The sponsored project will involve referral of participants to an organization in which an investigator has a financial interest, or includes collaboration or participation in a consortium of organizations in which an investigator has a financial interest.

Resources

• PHS - NIH Grants Policy
• NSF Grant Policy Manual

For further information contact

Compliance@cofc.edu
Research Protections and Compliance
Office of Research and Grants Administration
Office location: 407-G BellSouth Building