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COI News and Announcements
All full time faculty, including teaching faculty, must submit an annual disclosure in COINS. See the following resources for assistance:
- When: Disclosure Timeline: When to Disclose
- How to Disclose: Step-by Step Instructions via Role-based Learning Paths
- What to Disclose: Disclosure requirements for Penn State Faculty
About the Conflict of Interest Program
The Conflict of Interest and Outside Activities Program manages all financial interest disclosures for the University’s teaching faculty, research community and University Officials, and provides support to both the Individual and Institutional Conflict of Interest Committees. The program also maintains the University’s individual and institutional conflict of interest policies, guidelines, and procedures and strives to ensure compliance with all federal regulations and University policies (RP06 and AD83). Additionally, the program reports on Outside Professional Activities (AC80).
Individual Conflict of Interest
The Individual COI program and Committee operates under the Individual Conflict of Interest Policy. This policy requires investigators to disclose Significant Financial Interests (SFI) as defined in policy RP06. Visit the Individual Conflict of Interest page to learn more about how and what to disclose.
Outside Professional Activities
Often Penn State faculty engage in entrepreneurial or professional services, both paid and unpaid, that are in the faculty member’s general area of expertise but are beyond the scope of the individual’s employment at the University. The University encourages its employees to engage in outside activities when such activities enhance the mission of the University, do not compete with the University, and do not conflict or materially interfere with any faculty member’s appointment with the University. Visit the Conflict of Commitment webpage to learn more about disclosure and prior approval requirements for these activities.
Institutional Conflict of Interest
Penn State’s Institutional Conflict of Interest Policy establishes coordinated reporting of University financial interests from various offices and annual disclosure of financial and business interests of University Officials (as defined in AD83). The commitee reviews financial or business interests of the University and of University Officials for potential institutional conflicts of interest. Read more about institutional conflict of interest.
COINS
All full-time faculty, (including Penn State Health physicians who are also College of Medicine faculty), University Officials, postdoctoral fellows, and those who are named as investigators / key personnel on sponsored or IRB research proposals are required to make a disclosure in COINS (Conflict Of Interest System), Penn State’s online disclosure system. COINS also supports prior approval submissions for outside professional activities such as starting a company or engaging in outside teaching during your appointment period.
International Collaborations
Federal sponsors of research have begun to place increased scrutiny on researcher involvement with foreign institutions and governments, particularly as it relates to the protection of U.S. research and intellectual property. University faculty commonly collaborate with foreign universities and institutions for the purposes of advancing research and academics. While these relationships are often beneficial and are encouraged by the University, it is necessary to carefully consider the nature of such collaborations and to be fully transparent about them.
Some Significant Financial Interests which researchers disclose under policy RP06, as well as certain Outside Professional Activities which faculty disclose under policy AC80, also need to be included in “Other/Pending Support” on grant or contract applications. Researchers are encouraged to visit the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research’s Research Security Program website, and review the Guidance for International Activities section as well as the Disclosure Management section.
Office for Research Protections
Address
200 Innovation Blvd.
Suite 110
University Park, PA 16802
The Office for Research Protections (ORP) ensures that research at the University is conducted in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines that protect human participants, animals, students, and personnel involved with research.