Conflict of Interest and Commitment

A conflict of interest or commitment is created when personal, financial, or outside interests have the potential to unduly influence the design, conduct, or reporting of research or interfere with the performance of institutional responsibilities. The Huron Research Suite is utilized by Texas A&M to provide an avenue for documentation of financial interests and outside activities which might raise concerns about conflicts of interest and commitment. Within that system, all Texas A&M employees are required to complete an annual Disclosure Profile and submit Pre-Approval Requests when needed.

Huron Instructions and Guidance Activities to Be Disclosed

Financial Conflict of Interest

Pursuant to the Texas A&M System Regulation 15.01.03 Financial Conflicts of Interest in Sponsored Research, and University Rule 15.01.03.M1, Texas A&M has the responsibility to identify and manage and reduce or eliminate conflicts of interest that may arise due to financial or other personal interests of the investigator. The project director or principal investigator and any other person, regardless of job title or position, who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of research or research activities is required to complete a disclosure in Huron.  Please see Huron instructions and guidance documents here. Disclosures are required: 

  • within 30 days of initial employment,
  • prior to the submission of an application for funding,
  • at least annually, and
  • within 30 days of acquisition of a new activity requiring disclosure.

In addition, all investigators who are responsible for designing, conducting, or reporting on research or research activities must also complete training on financial conflicts of interest. Employees will receive automatic notifications with a link to the training. The training is currently available through the A&M System’s Single Sign On system (TrainTraq Course 2111716), and is required every 4 years.

Financial Conflict of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions

Conflict of Commitment

Pursuant to the Texas A&M University Rule 15.99.99.M0.02 Conflict of Commitment, Texas A&M provides a transparent system of disclosure of its employees’ activities, external to the university, which might otherwise raise concerns about conflicts of commitment. In order to protect the credibility and reputation of the university and its faculty and staff when those employees are engaged in external activities, ensure compliance with state ethics laws and The Texas A&M University System Policies and Regulations, and address conflicts between external professional and non-professional activities and university responsibilities, all employees are required to complete a disclosure in Huron (non-investigators will not see FCOI questions), and seek pre-approval for outside activities, as needed. Please see Huron instructions and guidance documents here.

Conflict of Commitment

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Resources

NIH

National Institutes of Health FAQs

NIH 

National Institutes of Health Tutorial

For Questions, Contact

Conflict Of Interest