Relatedness

Relatedness

In professional research, “relatedness” refers to the overlap between your personal and/or financial interests and your institutional responsibilities. These responsibilities vary based on one’s expertise. For example, while owning stock in a clothing company likely not related to a linguist’s research responsibilities, it is likely related to those of a textile researcher.

Relatedness in the COI Disclosure Process

  • UNC’s COI process is designed to identify potential overlaps before studies begin, or within 30 days of a change in a researcher’s interests.
    • This allows the COI Office and Committees to manage Financial Conflicts of Interest in accordance with University Policy and Public Health Service regulations.
  • The COI annual disclosure form asks whether you or an immediate family member have a financial interest to report that is related to your professional duties at UNC Chapel Hill.
  • Disclose financial interests related to your professional duties or responsibilities. For further guidance:

Immediate family member

A covered individual‘s

  • Spouse,
  • Dependent children, or
  • Any person cohabitating with the Covered Individual, sharing mutual responsibility for each other’s welfare and financial obligations.

In certain circumstances as dictated by specific federal funding agencies or other sponsors, this term may have a broader definition.

Relatedness Screening Questions

  • If you answer “yes” or “maybe” to any of the questions below:
    • Answer yes to Question #8
    • Associate that protocol or project number with the related financial interests.
      • While the COI Office reviews all Significant Financial Interests (SFI), investigators can significantly expedite COI review by flagging relevant studies.

For example:

A research protocol evaluates the efficacy of new drug. The drug is licensed to Entity Y.

If the researcher has a external financial interest in Entity Y, then they should associate the protocol with their interest on their disclosure.

For example:

A research grant uses a tool to assess visual acuity. The tool is manufactured by Entity Y.

If the researcher has a external financial interest in Entity Y, then they should associate the grant with their interest on their disclosure.

For example:

A research protocol collaborates with a community health center. The community health center collaborates with Entity Y.

If the researcher has an external financial interest with Entity Y, then they should associate the protocol with their interest on their disclosure.

For example:

A research grant tests trends in global trade. The researcher is a paid consult on global trade with Entity Y.

The researcher should associate their external financial interest in Entity Y with this grant on their disclosure.

For example:

A research protocol collaborates with Entity Y to improve health outcomes related to a specific medical condition. The researcher is a scientific board member of Entity Y.

The researcher should associate their external financial interest in Entity Y with this protocol on their disclosure.

For example:

A research grant enhances a fertilizer to improve crop yield. This product completes with a product sold by Entity Y, a gardening retail chain.

If the researcher has an external financial interest in Entity Y, then they should associate the grant with their interest on their disclosure.

If you believe that there are any other potential overlaps between your studies and your external financial interests, then associate the relevant protocols and projects with the interest on your disclosure to expedite processing.

Financial Interest Disclosure Categories

Review all of the disclosure categories below to identify your related external financial interests.

Disclosure Category Chart

  • Review the chart below to determine what external financial interests you must disclose and what you should not disclose.
  • Contact the COI Office with any questions.

Disclose:

#1: Salary
  • Salary or other payments for services, e.g.,
    • consulting fees,
    • honoraria, or
    • remuneration for holding a position in a company
#2: Income
  • Income from:
    • seminars
    • lectures
    • service or
    • speaking/teaching engagements

Sponsored by for-profit, non-profit, or individual entities (domestic or foreign)

  • Income from:
    • royalties
    • individual gifts
#3: Equity Interests
  • Equity interests (e.g., equity, equity options, stocks, stock options, or bonds) that are directly controlled by the discloser or their immediate family members.
    • “Direct control” means the owner of the equity interests has investment power, which includes the power to buy, sell, or direct the purchase or sale of the equity interests.
#4: Unpaid External Positions
  • Service in an external executive, board, volunteer, or advisory position.
#5: Ownership of a Business
  • Ownership of a business, regardless of the business’s profitability.
#6: Intellectual Property
  • Intellectual property (e.g., inventions, patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc.) and license-related payments from such rights that are paid external to UNC.
#7: Travel
  • Disclose travel only if you have U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)-funded projects.
    • Disclose travel that is paid or reimbursed by a non-University entity and related to a submitter’s institutional responsibilities.
#8: Gifts
  • Gifts to the University that benefit the discloser’s research.

Do not Disclose:

#1: Salary from the University
  • Salary, reimbursement, or remuneration originating from the University.
#2: Income from U.S. Governmental and Educational Entities
  • Income (including honoraria) from seminars, lectures, or teaching/speaking engagements sponsored by a:
    • federal,
    • state, or
    • local government agency;
    • an institution of higher education/affiliated research institute; or
    • an academic teaching hospital/medical center in the U.S.

Note: this exclusion only applies to income from U.S. domestic entities.

#3: Income from advisory service on U.S. governmental or educational entities
  • Income (including honoraria) from seminars, lectures, or teaching/speaking engagements sponsored by a:
    • federal,
    • state, or
    • local government agency;
    • an institution of higher education/affiliated research institute; or
    • an academic teaching hospital/medical center in the U.S.

Note: this exclusion only applies to income from U.S. domestic entities.

#4: Mutual Funds
  • Mutual funds or other investment vehicles over which the discloser has no direct control over the selection of holdings.
#5: Travel paid through University sources
  • Travel that was paid for by the University or by a project processed through the Office of Sponsored Programs.