Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.51
Liaison Aurora Sharrard
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Pittsburgh
IN-1: Academy-Industry Connections

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.25 / 0.50 Ellie Cadden
Sustainability Engagement Assistant
Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution require that all significant consulting contracts be reported to a standing committee charged with reviewing and managing individual and institutional conflicts of interest?:
Yes

The policy language that requires that all significant consulting contracts be reviewed for conflicts of interest:
Conflict of interests for consulting contracts are reported to Unit Heads. Unit heads (or senior designees acting on their behalf) in a timely fashion complete the following:

1) Review all Conflict of Interest Statements for real, apparent, or potential conflicts of interest;

2) Request and document additional details including precise dollar figures for ownership interests or remuneration if such details appear necessary for a sound determination of the presence or absence of an impermissible conflict of interest;

3) Meet with individual consultants to discuss collegially how potential or actual conflicts shall be resolved; and

4) Recommend and initiate action to resolve the apparent, potential, or real conflict.

If there are issues or concerns, the case is then elevated for review by the Dean and then the Provost for response.

In additional, the University has a Conflict of Interest Committee and Office who play an important role in assisting the University community with understanding federal regulations and implementing best practices.

The Conflict of Interest Committee (COIC) is a standing committee responsible for the oversight and management of potential conflicts of interest of employees and the institution. COIC was created by University Policy RI01 (formerly 11-01-03), Conflict of Interest for Research. COIC is authorized by the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research to receive COI disclosures and to review and manage the risks associated with the disclosed interests. The Committee provides, among other things, advice on novel or difficult conflict of interest cases.

The membership of the COIC consists of University faculty, staff, and students involved in a cross-section of research disciplines, including two members recommended by the president of the University Senate and administrators responsible for purchasing. The COIC reports, through the Chairman of the Committee to the Acting Vice Chancellor for Research Protections.

About COIC: https://www.coi.pitt.edu/about/coi-committee

University Policy RI 01, Conflict of Interest for Research: https://www.policy.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/Policies/Research-Innovation/Policy_RI_01.pdf

University Policy RI 02, Consultant Conflict of Interest, https://www.policy.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/Policies/Research-Innovation/RI%2002%20Policy.pdf

Pitt Conflict of Interest generally: https://www.coi.pitt.edu/

Does the institution prohibit faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, and other academic professionals from engaging in industry-led “ghostwriting” or “ghost authorship”?:
No

The policy language that prohibits industry-led “ghostwriting” or “ghost authorship”:
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Does the institution prohibit participation in sponsored research that restricts investigator access to the complete study data or that limits investigators’ ability to verify the accuracy and validity of final reported results?:
No

The policy language that prohibits sponsored research that restricts investigator access or verification:
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Does the institution ban confidential corporate research?:
Yes

The policy language that bans confidential corporate research:
RI 08- Rights, Roles, and Responsibilities of Sponsored Research Investigators states, “The University should not accept awards or enter into agreements for the support of research which confer upon another party the power to censor or exercise effective veto over the dissemination of results and conclusions arising from research,”  and further states, “No agreement should preclude the right of researchers to publish the results of their research.”  Confidential corporate research typically precludes the University from publishing and/or requires express written consent of publications, which would violate this policy.  (See also, University Policy RI 05, “Patent Rights and Technology Transfer,” which states, “All publication rights relating to sponsored research or research supported entirely or largely by University resources are reserved by the University for itself and its faculty members, staff, and student,” subject to certain conditions.)

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s policies regarding industry-sponsored research is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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