Definitions for Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI)
Conflict of Interest
A Conflict of Interest (COI) is a divergence between an individual’s private interests and his or her professional obligations to the University such that an independent observer might reasonably question whether the individual’s professional actions or decisions are determined by considerations of personal gain, financial or otherwise.
Investigator
Investigator refers to the Project Director/Principal Investigator, any other person identified as Senior/Key personnel in a grant application, progress report, or other report submitted to an external sponsor, and others who direct or can materially influence the research, or who are responsible for the design, conduct, and reporting of such research.
Significant Financial Interest
Significant Financial Interest means anything of monetary value, including but not limited to salary or other payments for services (e.g., consulting fees or honoraria); equity interests (e.g., stocks, stock options, or ownership interests); and intellectual property rights (e.g., patents, copyrights, and royalties from such rights).