PURPOSE

The protection of human subjects requires objectivity in communicating risks, selecting subjects, informed consent, and collecting, analyzing, and reporting data. Accordingly, the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) considers potential conflicts of interest during its review of applications.

SCOPE

The protection of human subjects requires objectivity in communicating risks, selecting subjects, informed consent, and collecting, analyzing, and reporting data. Accordingly, the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) considers potential conflicts of interest during its review of applications.

POLICY

The University of Utah IRB will follow and adhere to the University of Utah’s Conflict of Interest policies.  These policies are posted on the University Regulations website. The IRB requires that the financial interests of investigators, study personnel, and relevant institutional officials be managed to ensure they do not compromise participant protections or the integrity of the human research protection program.

All investigators and research personnel must complete a disclosure form within the University of Utah Business Relationship Reporting online system, declaring any significant potential financial interests related to the research. The University of Utah Electronic Research Integrity and Compliance Administration system (ERICA) communicates with the Business Relationship Reporting online system to determine if disclosure forms for individuals listed in the IRB application are completed and up to date as per the standards described in University of Utah Policy 1-006: Individual Financial Conflict of Interest Policy.

The Conflict of Interest Committee is required to report all conflicts of interest determinations related to human subject research and provide management plans to the IRB. Management plans are accessible to the IRB within ERICA. The IRB will review the Conflict of Interest committee decisions and management plans to consider the effect of financial interests on participant protections. The IRB may request that the investigator update the IRB application and/or consent documents to comply with the Conflict of Interest management plan if it has not already been updated. The IRB has the final authority to decide whether the conflicting interests and management plans adequately protect participants and allow research to be approved.