How do you disclose conflicts of interest in R&D?

1 What is disclosure?

Disclosure is the process of revealing or reporting any COIs that may affect or appear to affect your R&D activities, decisions, or outcomes. Disclosure can be done verbally, in writing, or electronically, depending on the context and the requirements of the relevant stakeholders, such as funders, employers, collaborators, journals, regulators, or the public. Disclosure should be done as early as possible, preferably before starting or applying for R&D projects, and updated regularly throughout the R&D lifecycle. Disclosure should also be clear, accurate, complete, and accessible to all the parties involved or affected by the R&D.

4 What are some challenges for disclosure?

When it comes to disclosure, there are a few noteworthy challenges. Firstly, defining and identifying COIs can be difficult as there is no universal or objective definition or criterion for what constitutes a COI or how significant or relevant it is for R&D. This can be further complicated by the fact that some COIs may be subtle, complex, or ambiguous. Secondly, there is the challenge of balancing competing interests as disclosing COIs may have positive and negative consequences for your R&D career, reputation, or relationships. Lastly, managing and mitigating COIs is not enough to eliminate or reduce their impact on R&D. Appropriate actions or measures need to be taken to manage or mitigate your COIs, however these actions may not always be feasible, effective, or acceptable and thus pose practical or ethical challenges.

5 How do you improve disclosure in R&D?

Improving disclosure in R&D requires collaboration from all stakeholders involved or affected by R&D, such as researchers, institutions, funders, publishers, regulators, or the public. To do so, it is essential to develop and implement clear policies and guidelines for COIs and disclosure that reflect the specific needs and challenges of different disciplines, fields, or contexts. Education, training, and awareness programs should also be provided to researchers and other stakeholders about the importance of disclosure and best practices. Moreover, mechanisms and platforms for disclosure must be established and supported, such as online databases, registries, or repositories. It is also important to monitor and evaluate the compliance of disclosure policies and practices, as well as engage the public in the disclosure process. Finally, disclosure information should be communicated in a clear, accessible, and understandable manner.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?