Research Compliance

Welcome to the Office of Outside Interests at Case Western Reserve University. The mission of the Office is to administer the University’s Policies on conflict of interest, to preserve the integrity of the University and its members, and to comply with applicable federal laws pertaining to individual and institutional outside interests where there could be the appearance of a conflict of interest. It is the intent of Case Policies and the mission of the Office of Outside Interests to fulfill this charge while at the same time respecting academic freedom and encouraging outside scholarly and entrepreneurial activities.

The Outside Interests Committee (OIC Page)

The Office of Outside Interests supports the OIC in:

•   Identifying and responding to individual and institutional outside interests in a timely, supportive fashion

•   Reviewing individual, as well as institutional outside financial interests

•   Managing, wherever possible, outside interests that could give the appearance of conflict of interest.

Click here for information on The Outside Interests Committee Procedures

Outside Financial Interest Report For Faculty and Investigators

•   In the past, annual financial interest reports were accepted online, by mail or by fax.

•   In 2009, paper reports can no longer be accepted, due to the increased level of detail captured on the annual form in order to comply with the revised Policies.

Submit Your Financial Interest Report Online:

•   Submit the Outside Financial Interest Report for Faculty and Investigators online via Spiderweb using your Case network ID (also known as "user name," "userID," "Case ID," or "CWRUnet ID") and password.

•   Follow the link on the left menu pane to “Outside Interest (COI) Entry Form.”

•   If you have difficulty logging in to SpiderWeb, please see Case User ID HELP.

•   Faculty members (particularly SOM) who have never used their Case network IDs will receive assistance from this office and from their School Faculty Affairs Office.

•   If you need an affiliate account sponsored by an active Case faculty or staff member, your sponsoring Case faculty or staff member can set up your affiliate account here.

Case Policies

In February, 2009, Case Western Reserve University’s Board of Trustees approved revised conflict of interest Policies developed at the initiative of President Barbara R. Snyder and with extensive consultation with constituencies across the campus. The President’s leadership in updating the policy has placed the university ahead of national trends toward greater transparency in proposed federal and state legislation, voluntary disclosure by industry web sites, and anticipated changes in NIH regulations. The revised Policies apply to all members of the university community, including University leadership, faculty, researchers, staff and students. For more information, see the 2009 Case “Policies on Individual Conflicts of Interest and Institutional Conflicts of Interest.”

Please note: In June, 2009, the January 27, 2009 Policies were revised to address NIH requirements. Please see pages three-four for added language pertaining to record-keeping and NIH notification in the event of non-compliance.

COI Policies 2009

Information Sessions on Revised Case COI Policies

In order to gain continuing research education credits and to learn more about Case Western Reserve University's 2009 revised Conflict of Interest policies, register for the CREC Research Seminar on the topic of conflict of interest offered on November 6, 2009.

Register online at: Spiderweboraseminars.case.edu

Current Events

The National Institutes of Health is considering changing the regulations pertaining to conflict of interest that have been in effect since 1995. On May 8, 2009, the NIH posted the following request for comment, stating that, “Recognition of the growing complexity of biomedical research, the increased interaction between Government and the private sector in meeting common public health goals, and recent public scrutiny have raised the question of whether a more rigorous approach to Investigator disclosure, management of conflicts, and Federal oversight is required.”

NIH Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) on Objectivity in Research for Which Public Health Funding is Sought (42 CFR 50) and Responsible Prospective Contractors (45 CFR 94).

Link to Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10666.pdf

On June 10, 2009, the Association of American Universities and Association of American Medical Colleges provided a joint response in the form of a letter to the NIH.

Link to AAU/AAMC joint response: 06-10-09 AAU/AAMC Joint Response

The Outside Interests Committee sent a response to the NIH on June 23, 2009, endorsing the AAU/AAMC joint response.

Link to OIC response: 06-23-09 OIC Response

See this page for news of further developments....

Other COI Information at Case

CFAO COI Form for Case Staff

Faculty Handbook

Human Resource Policy on COI

Human Resource Procedures for COI

Procurement Policy, Gifts and Gratuities

Procurement Policy, Vendor Relations

Other Resources

E-mail Information for Affiliates

The Case Office of Outside Interests sends out email notifications via Case email. If you’re working at an affiliate organization (UHCMC, CCLCM, etc.), did you know you can have your Case email forwarded to your daily email account, saving you time and effort?

If you work for UHCMC, you can download this brief PowerPoint presentation that will tell you how to forward your Case email to your UHCMC account. [DOWNLOAD HERE.]

Using Yahoo, Hotmail or Googlemail? Check with your email provider to find out how you can forward email to your account.

(NOTE: We offer this email forwarding information as a convenience for you. Forwarding your Case email is not a requirement to complete your COI form.)

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE Outside Interests Committee