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Institutional Conflicts of Interest in Academic Research

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Abstract

Financial relationships in academic research can create institutional conflicts of interest (COIs) because the financial interests of the institution or institutional officials may inappropriately influence decision-making. Strategies for dealing with institutional COIs include establishing institutional COI committees that involve the board of trustees in conflict review and management, developing policies that shield institutional decisions from inappropriate influences, and establishing private foundations that are independent of the institution to own stock and intellectual property and to provide capital to start-up companies.

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Acknowledgments

This article is the work product of an employee or group of employees of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, the statements, opinions or conclusions contained therein do not necessarily represent the statements, opinions or conclusions of the NIEHS, NIH, or the United States government.

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  1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, PO Box 12233, Mail Drop E1-06, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA

    David B. Resnik

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  1. David B. Resnik
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Correspondence to David B. Resnik.

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Resnik, D.B. Institutional Conflicts of Interest in Academic Research. Sci Eng Ethics 25, 1661–1669 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-015-9702-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-015-9702-9

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