COI Annual Review Process

Annual Review of a Conflict Situation

All active COI Management Plans are reviewed on a regular basis (at least annually) to verify:

• That the conflict of interest still exists
• The individuals involved in the situation and their roles with the research or external entity 
• The individuals, such as ombudspersons, that have a role in the management of the conflict of interest
• That disclosure of the conflict situation has occurred to students, in publications, etc., as appropriate

Using M-Inform

At this time, the conflicted individual and other individuals required to review a COI Management Plan receive an email with a link to the Annual Review (AR) in M-Inform.  Using the AR, you will answer a series of questions to update the detail related to the management plan.  Submission of your answers in M-Inform allows the COI Office to conduct the review, which may include revisions of the plan.  Revisions require accepting the updated plan in M-Inform.  (See the Responding to a COI Management Plan section for more information.)

Potential Annual Review Outcomes

Upon completion of the annual review, the COI Management Plan may have one of the following states:

• Under Management: The conflict of interest situation continues to be managed via annual review.
• Management Ended – Awaiting Publication: The research project has ended, but the disclosure of the conflict of interest is required in subsequent publications or presentations of the research results.
• Management Ended: The research project has ended.  Subsequent annual review for the conflict situation is not required.
• Conflict Eliminated:  The relationship with the external entity has ended.  Subsequent annual review for the conflict situation is not required.