Conflict of Interest
In compliance with Federal and State policies, the Conflict of Interest Committee (COIC) reviews financial interest disclosures as they relate to research on the Merced campus. Financial interests can be classified into several categories which include income, equity, gifts, loans, travel reimbursement, management or employment, and intellectual property rights. Conflict of interest disclosures may be solicited through Sponsored Projects for projects sponsored by PHS, NSF, private industry/business and other non-governmental agencies, as well as projects sponsored by the UC Discovery Grant and clinical projects referred by UC Merced's Institutional Review Board (IRB).
The COIC is comprised of faculty from a cross-section of the campus. COIC meetings are held at least once during the semester. Once an investigator discloses a positive financial interest, the COIC reviews the investigator's financial disclosure and any applicable information. From there, the COIC forwards a recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Research. If the Vice Chancellor accepts the COIC's recommendation of approval, the investigator is notified of the approval. If the Vice Chancellor determines that an interest must be eliminated, reduced, or managed, the investigator and the unit head are notified.
As part of its review, the COIC considers the type and breadth of the financial interest, amount of the financial interest, support history, and any research subjects risks, if applicable. Other risks considered are compromise of scientific integrity, misuse of University facilities, improper direction of student's or University employee's work, unbalanced allocation of faculty member's time and effort, failure to recognize the University's intellectual property and related financial interests, improper channeling of research funds, inappropriate delay or restriction on publications, appearance of impropriety.
Conflicts can be avoided by maintaining financial interests which fall below the disclosable categories as outlined on the UC Merced Financial Interest Disclosure Matrix.
Conflict of Interest Policies
UC Merced COI Policy
UC Merced Policy on Conflict of Interest in Gifts
UC Merced Financial Interest Disclosure Matrix
Disclosure Requirements
List of Non-governmental Sponsors Exempted from Disclosure Requirements
Conflict of Commitment
The COIC is comprised of faculty from a cross-section of the campus. COIC meetings are held at least once during the semester. Once an investigator discloses a positive financial interest, the COIC reviews the investigator's financial disclosure and any applicable information. From there, the COIC forwards a recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Research. If the Vice Chancellor accepts the COIC's recommendation of approval, the investigator is notified of the approval. If the Vice Chancellor determines that an interest must be eliminated, reduced, or managed, the investigator and the unit head are notified.
As part of its review, the COIC considers the type and breadth of the financial interest, amount of the financial interest, support history, and any research subjects risks, if applicable. Other risks considered are compromise of scientific integrity, misuse of University facilities, improper direction of student's or University employee's work, unbalanced allocation of faculty member's time and effort, failure to recognize the University's intellectual property and related financial interests, improper channeling of research funds, inappropriate delay or restriction on publications, appearance of impropriety.
Conflicts can be avoided by maintaining financial interests which fall below the disclosable categories as outlined on the UC Merced Financial Interest Disclosure Matrix.
Conflict of Interest Policies
UC Merced COI Policy
UC Merced Policy on Conflict of Interest in Gifts
UC Merced Financial Interest Disclosure Matrix
Disclosure Requirements
List of Non-governmental Sponsors Exempted from Disclosure Requirements
Conflict of Commitment