Conflict of Interest Update

1. Conflict of Interest Update Melanie Loots Associate Vice Chancellor for Research September 13, 2011

2. Thank you for your Assistance! • Your participation is very important • Encouraging meetings of management oversight committees • Encouraging awareness of issues • Vigilance • Ideas

4. Illinois Policy on Conflicts of Commitment and Interest • The University of Illinois Policy on Conflicts of Commitment and Interest was revised effective July 1, 2011. • Please see http://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/policies/COCI.cfm • Revisions were developed by a three-campus committee involving faculty and staff, reviewed by the University Senates Conference, and approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. • Basic principles remain the same.

5. More Change - New HHS Guidance • HHS has issued final changes to the Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for Which Public Health Service Funding is Sought and Responsible Prospective Contractors • As we implement the new HHS guidance, you will see changes to our disclosure and management processes for financial conflicts of interest.

6. Conflicts of Interest and Commitment • A conflict of interest exists when an academic staff member is in a position to advance his/her own interest or that of others to the University’s detriment • A conflict of commitment arises when the external activities of an academic staff member are so demanding of time or attention that they interfere with the individual’s responsibilities to the University

7. Conflict Disclosure and Management • The Unit Executive Officer works with the academic staff member to identify and evaluate potential conflicts and to manage or eliminate them. • Identification of conflicts is facilitated by the annual disclosure process, currently using the Report of Non-University Activities • Electronic process is coming….

8. Highlights of Revised Policy • Attention to procedures for review and approval • References to procurement process • Attention to upcoming new HHS regulations • Expanded examples of activities that are allowable and activities that present potential conflicts • Attention to COI in teaching

9. Annual Disclosure Process is Mandated by Policy • Massmail September 19 directs staff to complete and print pdf form. • Form is returned to unit office for approval. • Unit downloads checklist from website, prints, corrects, completes and returns to Dean. • Forms, instructions and answers to questions available at http://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/policies/COCI.cfm

10. Dates for Completion • September 19, 2011: Notification to employees of form availability • October 3, 2011: Completed forms turned into departments • October 24, 2011: Reviewed forms forward from departments to colleges • November 14, 2011: Reviewed forms due from colleges to OVCR Please see http://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/policies/COCI.cfm

11. Changes in Disclosure Process • New RNUA form • New RNUA part II form • Footnotes in separate document • Revised and expanded explanatory materials • Revised and consolidated FAQ

12. Reminders • Increased federal and internal scrutiny. • The Chancellor’s letter emphasizes that the individual’s primary responsibility is to the Institution. • Essential – prior approval • Essential – FULL DISCLOSURE • Heads should not approve an activity unless satisfied that it benefits the institution and the employee and conflicts can be managed.

13. Prior Approval is Essential • Our policy specifies that all outside activities must have written prior approval. • This requirement is met by the Report of Non-University Activities, however, permission must be requested from the unit head for new activities during the year that were not disclosed when the form was completed.

14. Recent Audit Issues • Inappropriate delegation of review • Failure to follow through on conflict management plans • Lack of supplementary explanatory information from employee or supervisor when required The VPAA is working with the three campuses to improve procedures and explore possibility of an electronic process.

15. Assistance is Available During the Year • Roundtable discussions with faculty, unit heads or research groups • Presentations to students, faculty and staff • Explanatory materials targeted at particular colleges or units • Consultation on particular cases

16. Some Recent Concerns • Elected officials – conflict management now in place for the Mayor of Champaign! • Conflicts in connection with Purchasing • Purchases from faculty companies • Increased attention to family relationships by internal audits • Information coming on VCR web page • Need for conflict management in connection with IRB protocols

17. Purchasing Considerations • REVISED Illinois Procurement Law • Conflict management is necessary but not sufficient. • “The President remains the only person who can authorize a contract on behalf of the University with an entity in which a University employee has an interest.” (Policy, Section D)

18. Management of Apparent Familial Conflicts in Grants • If immediate family members are co-PIs on a proposal, their contribution to the activity is peer-reviewed. • Immediate family members should not oversee time reporting, raises, reimbursements for each other. • Documentation of appropriate business practices and adherence to policies is key to conflict management.

19. Start-Up Companies • An area where conflicts of interest and commitment are likely to arise. • Faculty and staff should be aware that conflicts can arise from the point of view of the company as well as from the point of view of the University. • Each case is unique.

20. Interim Guidelines for Licensing to University Employee Start-Up Companies • Disclosure and Due Diligence Business Evaluation conducted by OTM, the Department, the College • Conflict of Commitment/Interest Evaluation and Management Plan required – also for SBIR and STTR Grants and Subcontracts

21. Disclosure Is Essential • Faculty and staff should explicitly disclose their company involvement when submitting subaward proposals to SBIR and STTR proposals. • When in doubt, disclose.

22. AP Start-Up Companies • Consider conflicts carefully for companies that are created by academic professionals. • Difficulties can arise if the AP’s company enters into subawards or other contracts with the AP’s supervisor or unit. • Conflicts may turn out to be more serious than initially expected.

23. When are Conflict Management Plans required? • Licensing of university intellectual property • Use of other university resources • Involvement of students in faculty-owned company • Involvement of university employees in company owned by faculty or staff • Other unusual circumstances

24. Elements of Conflict Management • Management Oversight Committee review • Continued disclosure of IP • Separation of research activities from company activities • Reimbursement of University for use of equipment, facilities, etc. • Monitoring of student and employee involvement

25. Conflict Management and IRB • Goal is protection of human subjects • Must be approved by IRB ((Submit the conflict management plan with the IRB application) • Typical measures to manage financial conflicts of interest may not be sufficient • Consider role of investigator and key research personnel in the project • Consider family relationships, financial interest in company, other factors