Research Projects

Sponsored Research

All key personnel that are listed on a proposal must adhere to UNCGs COI policy. Adherence to this policy includes completion of an Annual COI Disclosure and completion of COI training at proposal submission.

Research-based conflict of interest disclosures are specific to the proposal. A new one must be completed each time a proposal is submitted to an external sponsor. In addition to the COI disclosure, all key personnel must complete COI training, which must be renewed every 4 years. 

Key personnel can include anyone that is involved in the design, conduct, or reporting of research. The following individuals can be considered key personnel:

• Principal Investigator/Project Director
• Outside collaborators (e.g. subrecipient investigators, consultants) and
• Any other faculty, staff, post-docs, graduate students, or even technicians identified in the proposal.
• Any other individual who is involved in the design, conduct, or reporting of research or contributes to the project in a substantial and measurable way.)

Not all proposals are awarded. Therefore, it is recommended to complete COI training as soon as you receive notice that you will be awarded. The award process cannot be completed, and a grant account will not be established until all required individuals have completed the appropriate training. Sign-up instructions can be found on the training page. 

For NSF, NIH, and USDA awards, Responsible Conducts of Research (RCR) training must also be completed prior to the distribution of funds. For more information, please visit the RCR page. 

Subcontracts and Non-University Employees 

Individuals responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of a federally funded research project may include non-university personnel, such as subcontractor employees, collaborators, or consultants. If the subrecipients’ home institution does not have a PHS compliant COI policy, then that subrecipient must agree to be subject to the UNCG COI policy. 

Note: Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) grants are excluded from the PHS COI regulations. However, Phases II & III are not excluded from the PHS COI regulations.