Dear Colleagues,
As many of you know, we are navigating a time of transition within UNC’s Conflict of Interest (COI) program. While change often brings uncertainty, it also presents a valuable opportunity to refocus our efforts and strengthen our commitment to responsible research practices.
UNC’s COI program is a cornerstone of our ethical approach to research. Maintaining objectivity is not only essential for scientific integrity and responsible stewardship—it is also critical to upholding the trust and safety of our research participants and protecting the reputation of our faculty and institution.
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been working closely with former COI Officer Joy Bryde and COI Deputy Director Raha Khademi to assess the program’s current needs and ensure continuity in leadership. In the near term, I will be serving as the COI Officer, and Raha will continue providing the steady leadership that has long supported the success of the program. Together, we are focused on maintaining day-to-day operations and advancing the program enhancements we’ve previously discussed.
I appreciate your patience and support during this period. I’ll be sharing additional updates in the coming weeks and welcome your questions or feedback in the meantime. I look forward to continuing this important work with all of you.
For questions related to Conflict of Interest, please contact [email protected]. For inquiries about External Professional Activities for Pay (EPAP), please contact [email protected].
Sincerely,
Quinton Johnson
AVC for Research Compliance
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
UNC Chapel Hill