VCOM Institutional Policy and Procedure Manual

VCOM Policy and Procedure

Policy #U015

Research and Scientific Activities VCOM personnel who wish to consult for industry on research and scientific activities must receive prior approval from VCOM to ensure there are no potential conflicts of interest between the topic of their consultation and the VCOM personnel’s clinical/biomedical work and to ensure the scientific activities are in line with the mission of the college. All contracts must be submitted to the Associate Dean, who will review, along with the President, to determine there is no potential conflict of interest and to review the topic of the research consultation and the clinical work. Both the Associate Dean and President will review and approve prior to the execution of any contract and any work taking place. Examples of external consulting with industry that may be approved include but are not limited to: • Serving on scientific advisory boards to review research; • Serving on panels to review and evaluate data from clinical trials sponsored by industry; • Developing educational materials directed towards the public for health promotion, explanation of diseases and evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic measures; • Advising industry about structure of clinical trials; and • Advising industry about the design, appropriate clinical usage or internal research on its products. VCOM personnel should be aware that even the most principled compensated consulting activities related to research might constitute a perceived conflict of interest in research or scientific activities, and might warrant restrictions on his/her ability to engage in related areas of research and/or to involve students and trainees in areas of conflicted research. VCOM personnel will be required to eliminate conflicts of interest in research or scientific activity that cannot be managed effectively and therefore would compromise or prevent them from carrying out their VCOM obligations. VCOM personnel who propose to serve as consultants to industry should adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards in conducting these external activities, and must also follow the principles listed below: • VCOM faculty and staff are committed to VCOM for 100% of their professional time as a whole, and approval is required for any external engagement. • Final approval of the proposed consulting will be subject to review by the Associate Dean and President as well as the VCOM Financial Conflict of Interest in Research Policy , VCOM Intellectual Properties and Agreements Policies and Procedures , policies of the VCOM Institutional Review Board and the Institutional Environmental and Biosafety Committee and others. For additional requirements on financial conflicts of interest, please see the VCOM Financial Conflict of Interest in Research Policy. 5.9 Pharmaceutical Samples VCOM is not a teaching hospital; however, VCOM prohibits sample medications from being distributed to any VCOM employees, even when purportedly for use by the individual and colleagues for patient care or education. Under certain circumstances samples may be donated directly to a central repository within the VCOM Office of International and Appalachian Outreach for the purposes of medical missions or for use with Appalachian patients in free clinics and APCA. Prior to any samples being accepted by the Office of International and Appalachian Outreach, a review and approval process will take place by the Dean’s Office and the Conflict of Interest Committee. Any donations approved will be delivered directly to the Outreach Office and not to physicians.

VCOM Policy on Conflicts of Interest

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