Update your disclosure here for new activities or when there is a material change to your outside interests or activities. This needs to be done within 30 days, unless you have funding from the Department of Energy, in which case it needs to be updated within 15 days.
The Office of Research Integrity will review your disclosure and determine whether a management plan is needed.
After you submit a disclosure, here’s what happens next:
The Office of Research Integrity will review your disclosure and determine whether it should be referred to the Faculty Conflicts Committee (FCC) for review and discussion. We may reach out for further clarification or information.
If appropriate, the information will be shared with the FCC, who may determine that a conflict management plan is necessary. If a conflict management plan is necessary, the Office of Research Integrity will work with you and the FCC to generate a plan that addresses all of your needs and the needs of Rice University.
Sign a COI management plan (if needed)
Sign a COI management plan when directed by your Dean's Office and/or the Office of Research Integrity.
Disclose your conflicts of interest promptly as required by your conflicts management plan.
Throughout the year, here are your continuing obligations:
Update your disclosure for new activities within 30 days (15 days if you have funding from the Department of Energy).
Submit requests for prior notification of outside activities and outside interest in the electronic system HERE or by contacting conflicts@rice.edu for instructions.
When submitting sponsored research proposals relating to your activity, ensure that the COI question in Cayuse is answered “Yes”.
When submitting manuscripts and giving presentations related to your activity, disclose your COI. Email conflicts@rice.edu for sample disclosures you can include in such manuscripts and presentations.
As new students and staff join your lab and research team, disclose your conflict to them in writing.
Submit updated COI disclosures during the annual disclosure season, between December and January, even if there are no changes in your activities with the outside company.
Every four years, take COI training in iO.
What are some best practices for managing my COI?
Create a clear separation between company activities and your Rice activities
Do not use Rice equipment and labs for company activities unless authorized under a sponsored research agreement or permission from your dean’s office and/or department. Otherwise, Rice facility use must comply with Policy 831 (“Stewardship and Personal Use of University Property”)
Do not use your Rice email, address, website, or telephone number as the company contact.
When negotiating a consulting agreement, negotiating a clear scope of work (“the development of enzyme abc and its uses in company’s technology xyz” is preferable to "research in biosciences")
Be aware of the Conflict of Commitment rules in Policy 216. Consult with your dean’s office if your activities require a greater level of commitment than the guidelines stated in Policy 216.
Inform your dean’s office and/or conflicts@rice.edu before engaging Rice students and staff in your activities with the company.
However, every situation is different, and additional elements to this plan may be necessary to mitigate the conflicts of interest. These additional elements could include:
Monitoring of research and financial expenditures by independent reviewers;
Modification of the research plan;
Disqualification from participation in the portion of funded research that could be affected by the conflict of interest;
Reduction or elimination of the Outside Interest (e.g., sale of an equity interest); and
