Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment
A Conflict of Interest (COI) exists when an Investigator's personal considerations or outside interests affect, or appear to affect, their judgment in conducting sponsored research or other Institutional Responsibilities. Examples of COI include Significant Financial Interests, Business Interests, and Familial Conflicts of Interest.
The University values Employees' participation in outside activities but requires that these do not conflict with their commitment to conducting University research without improper influence. Employees must disclose all actual or potential COIs to the University.
The Boston College Conflicts of Interest in Research Policy and Procedures outlines the principles for identifying and addressing COIs to ensure they do not improperly affect research. By reporting and managing conflicts early, the University and Investigators can prevent harmful outcomes.
Disclosures of COIs should be made on grant proposals, IRB protocol proposals, and intellectual property agreements. To assist in identifying and managing COIs, the University has a Conflict of Interest Committee to evaluate disclosures and develop management plans if necessary. Managing even the perception of a COI is crucial to maintain public trust in research. Guidelines on acceptable external affiliations are available in the Resources section at the bottom of this page.
Disclosure Submission & InfoEd Access
All听 BC Faculty members and all BC Staff Principal Investigators must submit and maintain their Conflict of Interest and Commitment Disclosures for Faculty and Principal Investigators through the InfoEd portal. Please follow these instructions to ensure your submission is processed correctly:
- Access using your standard BC credentials.
- InfoEd is a secure internal system. You must be on the BC Network or connected via the BC VPN (Eagle VPN) if working remotely or off campus.
- For visual guides on completing your disclosure and navigating the modules, refer to the
- Submission Deadlines:听
- Ongoing Updates: Within 30 days of acquiring or discovering a new Significant Financial Interest (SFI).
- Annual Requirement: All investigators must update their disclosures at least annually.
Need Assistance? If you encounter technical issues logging in or navigating the system, please contact conflictofinterest@bc.edu.
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Questions
For general inquiries regarding COI policy, outside interest disclosures, review processes, or management plans, please email researchintegrity@bc.edu.
For all faculty and staff needing assistance with accessing, reviewing, or updating their COI disclosure forms, please email conflictofinterest@bc.edu.听
Faculty may also refer to the Office of the Provost for additional guidance regarding Conflict of Commitment and Conflict of Interest or email vpfaculty@bc.edu.听
Training
Investigators engaging in or planning to engage in research funded by the Public Health Service (PHS) (e.g., NIH, CDC, FDA) or the Department of Energy (DOE) must complete Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) training prior to engaging in the research. Training must be refreshed at least once every four years.
Training is hosted through the . Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for ensuring that all individuals meeting the definition of an "investigator" on their project have completed this mandatory training before any research begins.
If you need assistance accessing CITI, please email researchintegrity@bc.edu.
Federal Resources:
Agency Resources & Federal Guidance听
- The primary regulation for all PHS-funded research.
- The latest NSF requirements for Biographical Sketches and Current & Pending Support, which must now be generated via SciENcv.
- : The current standing policy for Department of Energy awards.
- : Reflects the major 2025 overhaul of how NIH evaluates investigators and institutional resources to reduce reputational bias.
- : The federal oversight body for research misconduct and integrity standards.
The federal regulatory landscape is constantly evolving. It is the responsibility of each Investigator to stay up to date with the specific requirements and disclosure formats of their grant and sponsoring agency.听