The University of Michigan implemented a policy update July 1 that aims to strengthen research-related disclosure and reporting processes.
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The revised Conflict of Interest in Research, Sponsored Projects, and Technology Transfer policy — COI in Research — expands the requirement to disclose outside activities, relationships and interests to all investigators listed on a proposal approval form or award for any sponsored project.
In addition to this policy change, the university also enhanced its M-Inform disclosure system.
Key disclosure and reporting changes include:
- A more intuitive system design that is easier to navigate.
- The ability to identify if an outside activity involves a foreign entity.
- Clarification of the requirement to disclose all foreign travel, speaking engagements, and grant reviews at any amount.
- Clear examples and exceptions of reportable activities, including improved identification of disclosure thresholds for paid outside activities with U.S entities.
- More detailed options in M-Inform to better describe the outside activity.
While the revised policy brings approximately 1,400 new individuals into M-Inform, the system enhancements apply to all employees required to disclose activities. Previously reported outside activities will need to be updated to answer new disclosure questions and detail options after the university’s annual outside interest disclosure period begins July 1.
