Conflicts of interest (COI)

Implementing New Systems to Make Your Work Easier

Beginning in summer 2021, the Office of Research, Innovation and Impact (RII) will sequentially roll out and upgrade new systems designed to make your work related to Conflict of Interest and Commitment matters, the Human Subjects Protection Program (HSPP), and research proposals much easier.

Latest Related Announcements:

[Complete] - UAccess Research (UAR) system update

This winter, following implementation of the COI and HSPP systems, the current UAccess Research (UAR) system will be updated to a newer version of the Kuali Research application.

Here are some highlights: 

• The updated system will go live Jan. 25, 2022.
• The University VPN will no longer be required to access the research system.
• Proposal routing will eliminate lead unit pre-approval, routing immediately to investigators and department approvers simultaneously.
• The research system will be unavailable from close of business on Jan. 20 until the morning of Jan. 25.
• To prepare for routing changes, all proposals with deadlines from Jan. 18 to Jan. 28 must be fully approved and finalized in UAR by Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) before the UAR transition. Other proposals that began routing in the past can be canceled, copied and rerouted by the proposal initiator when the new UAR goes live. Additional details about proposal deadlines will follow.
• Responses to proposal questions will flow from proposals through awards to facilitate more accurate campus and institutional reporting. 
• The system will deliver new features and fixes on a continuous basis.
• Familiar content will have a more modern look and feel.

For more information, contact Susan Mundt, SPCS assistant director of operations, at mundts@arizona.edu.

[Complete] Implementing a New Institutional Review Board (IRB) System

The Human Subjects Protection Program (HSPP) will launch a new system, eIRB, designed to make submitting human research protocols easier and faster.

Please note the following important dates in the implementation process:

• Aug. 13 – Last day to submit to the HSPP for full committee review.
• Aug. 20 – Last day to submit to the HSPP for non-committee review. Any submissions received by this date but not yet finalized or any submission received after this date may not be reviewed and will be returned to you with further instruction on how to proceed.
• Aug. 25-Sept. 12 – Blackout period (No IRB system will be available for submissions).
• Sept. 13 – eIRB is available to submit materials to the IRB.

How will this affect you?

The new system is relevant to all University employees and students who conduct research involving human subjects.

• Please plan your submission to the HSPP with the above dates in mind.
• If your existing project(s) is set to expire during the planned blackout period, please submit a renewal or closure paperwork to VPR-IRB@arizona.edu as soon as possible. The HSPP will prioritize renewal submissions to ensure approval does not lapse due to system down time.
• For urgent matters and Just-in-Time (JIT) requests that arise during the planned blackout period, please contact Christine Melton-Lopez, Director HSPP, directly at melton1@arizona.edu.  

For questions or more information, please contact the HSPP at VPR-IRB@arizona.edu.

[Complete] New COI & COC system launched July 1, 2021!

How will this affect you?

The new system is relevant to individuals who submit COI disclosures and/or COC Forms (Requests for Approval of Outside Employment and Commitments):

1. University research Investigators
2. University Administrators who have an Outside Interest
3. Full-time University Employees who are employed or have a professional commitment outside of the University. Please visit the COI webpage to learn more about who should submit a COC form.

Please also note that beginning July 1, the Conflict of Interest Program will be called the Office for Responsible Outside Interests to more closely focus on the program’s goal: to align outside interests with the University’s mission to disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, and public service in a way that ensures transparency, integrity and public trust.

For questions or more information, contact the COI Program at coi@arizona.edu or at (520) 626-8266.

NEW COI & COC Policy:  The Conflicts of Interest & Commitment Policy (Interim) policy incorporates five of the University's conflict of interest and commitment policies into one policy to alleviate confusion and contradictions. A single conflict of commitment policy will now be applicable to full-time University employees. The policy is approved on an interim basis to address immediate concerns while the substantive policy revisions are presented for stakeholder feedback and publication.