The University of Miami is fully committed to maintaining objectivity in research and upholding the highest scientific and ethical standards in a manner that assures the integrity of the scientific record.
The University of Miami's conflict of interest policy has three components:
- All faculty (regardless of whether they conduct research or perform outside professional activities) must complete a Faculty Disclosure Form (FDF) every year. This year the form is available until May 31 on MyUM (Select the Employee tab; Payroll, HR, & Misc.; Employee Information; and then the Disclosure Form).
- Principal investigators conducting sponsored research projects (with external grants or cooperative agreements) must complete a Financial/Proprietary Interest Declaration (FID) for each project. If they identify study team members with potential conflicts of interest, each person named must complete an Individual Interest Disclosure (IID).
- Principal investigators conducting research involving human subjects must also comply with the Institutional Review Board's conflict of interest policy.
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- Financial/Proprietary Interest Declaration (FID): Accompanies the proposal transmittal form and is completed by the principal investigator on behalf of the study team for every proposal (including grants and projects) to an external funding agency. This form is not confidential.
- Individual Interest Disclosure (IID): Confidential form completed by each study team member who is identified as having a potential conflict of interest. Required only when interest is declared.
If a new reportable financial/proprietary interest arises any time after your proposal is submitted, you must submit a new FID and IID.
The University of Miami's conflict of interest policy requires declarations and disclosure of significant financial interests, significant obligations, and proprietary interests that currently exist, have existed during the previous 12 months, or are anticipated to arise over the next 12 months.
- Conflict of interest: a significant interest that could directly and significantly effect the design, conduct, or reporting of the research or educational activities funded by a governmental or other external agency.
- Principal investigator: person who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of funded research or educational activities. Spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children are included for the purposes of financial disclosure.
- Study team: everyone whose biographical sketch is included in the proposal or whose name appears in the budget. Spouses, domestic partners, dependent children, consultants and "to be appointed" positions are also included.
- Significant financial interests: income, gifts and/or loans in aggregate to the study team member and/or spouse and/or dependent children of $10,000 or more, or aggregate ownership interest valued at $10,000 or more or amounting to 5% or more. Including but not limited to salary or other payments or services (e.g., consulting fees or honoraria) and equity interests (e.g., stocks, stock options, warrants or other ownership interests).
- Significant obligations: positions as an officer, trustee, director, employee or consultant of an entity, whether for profit or not-for-profit, paid or unpaid, that would reasonably appear to be directly and significantly affected by the work proposed.
- Proprietary interests: intellectual property rights (e.g., patents, copyrights and royalties from such rights) that would reasonably appear to be directly and significantly affected by the work proposed.
- Faculty Manual
- Sponsored Programs Policies (See policies C8 and C10)
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Lynn Smith |
Jerry Engel |





