FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN RESEARCH OR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Maryland law encourages public senior higher education institutes to promote economic development in the State and to increase their financial resources through arrangements with the private sector, including collaborative research and development, commercial application of institution-owned intellectual property, and provision of technical assistance. The Maryland Public Ethics Law establishes certain conditions under which officials and employees may have relationships with entities involved with research or product development.

UMBI supports programs to foster economic development in the state and region and programs for commercializing and transferring university-produced technology to the private sector and providing campus affiliations to emerging private high-technology firms.

Unmanaged conflicts of interest can undermine the integrity of the researcher and UMBI, and the public's confidence in both. A Conflict of Interest (COI) exists if there is any interest or relationship with an entity by an individual that could affect the design, conduct, or reporting of research, or the mentoring of students. The conflict can be real or perceived as a potential source of bias in the conduct and/or interpretation of research, UMBI business, mentoring, outreach, public service activities or any other commitment to the mission of UMBI. Since conflicts of interest are based on a situation, not an outcome, the integrity or moral character of a person involved in a potential conflict of interest is not relevant.

UMBI's Office of Faculty Affairs administers to and facilitates the engagement in outside professional activities that may be perceived to have issues with a potential conflict of interest. Any outside professional activity that may have a conflict of interest must be approved prior to the commencement of the actitivy. All faculty and staff with exemptions or management plans must submit a report of their activities annually, even there were no changes in activity during the year.

Fauclty must submit the Disclosure of a Potential Conflict of Interest form and obtain approval before engaging in the activity.

Annually, during the Faculty Annual Review, a Management Report of a Potential Conflict of Interest form must be submitted as a component of the evaluation process.

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FORMS AND POLICY:

UMBI Policy on Conflict of Interest in Reserach or Product Development

Disclosure of a Potential Conflict of Interest form

Annual Management Report on Potential Conflict of Interest form

Please contact this office if you need any further information.

Contacts

Candice Rettie, PhD,
Vice President, EPAT
410-385-6311

John Trant, PhD,
Associate Vice President, Faculty Affairs
410-385-6323

contact:
Renee Burrell,
Academic Program Support Specialist
410-385-6361