Effective August 24, 2012, the Public Health Service (PHS) established new regulations regarding financial conflict of interest.  VSU’s conflict of interest policy has subsequently changed to comply with the new regulations.

All faculty, staff, and students participating in any funded research project will need to be familiar with VSU’s policies, which include mandatory training, disclosure of significant financial interests, and public accessibility to a researcher’s financial conflict of interest.  Links to Valdosta State University’s Conflict of Interest Policy and Procedures, the Financial Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement, the CITI online training course, and identified financial conflicts of interest can be found on OSPRA’s website.

Financial Conflict of Interest forms MUST be completed and submitted no later than January 31 of each year.

If you have been identified from OSPRA records as having served as a Principal Investigator/Project Director (PI/PD), Co-PI/PD, Co-Investigator (Co-I), or Key Person; having been compensated from; and/or having contributed effort to, a sponsored project within the last thirteen months, you will receive an email with the FCOI disclosure form in the coming weeks before the winter break.

The CITI Program training module must be completed every four (4) years – if you have completed the training module in the last four years, you need not complete it again at this time.  The Significant Financial Interest Disclosure Statement must be completed every year.

We appreciate your understanding of the complexity of sponsored project administration and your willingness to help ensure VSU’s conduct of sponsored programs in accordance with the highest ethical standards.  If you have any questions about these procedures or need assistance, please contact Rebecca Falks at rrfalks@valdosta.edu or 249-2614.