An example of an institutional COI is: The organization’s president is a member of the board of trustees for a local non-profit organization that does not sponsor research at the organization. One of the organization’s deans is the vice-chair of the organization’s IRB. The organization gives scholarships to some post-doctoral researchers. An industry sponsor pays for the construction of a new research laboratory at the organization.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is:
“An industry sponsor pays for the construction of a new research laboratory at the organization.”
Explanation
An Institutional Conflict of Interest (COI) occurs when an organization’s financial interests or relationships potentially affect, or appear to affect, its research activities, decision-making, or objectivity. Unlike individual COIs, institutional COIs involve organizational-level influences that can compromise neutrality in research integrity, oversight, or reporting.
The example provided—“An industry sponsor pays for the construction of a new research laboratory at the organization”—is the correct example of an institutional COI. This scenario represents a clear financial relationship between the organization and an external industry entity directly connected to research infrastructure. The provision of substantial financial support, such as funding laboratory construction, creates a vested interest for the institution. As a result, the organization may have an incentive to favor the sponsoring company’s research priorities, potentially undermining objective oversight, ethical standards, or the impartial review of research conducted within the new facility.
In contrast, the other provided scenarios do not qualify as institutional COIs. The organization’s president serving on the board of a local nonprofit that does not sponsor research poses no significant financial or operational influence over research activities. Similarly, an institutional dean serving as vice-chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) exemplifies internal administrative roles designed to manage and oversee research integrity, not conflicts themselves. Lastly, scholarships given to post-doctoral researchers represent academic support, rather than external financial interests influencing institutional decisions.
The defining characteristic of an institutional COI is that it involves external financial or business relationships with the potential to bias institutional decisions or compromise objectivity in research. Therefore, the sponsorship of laboratory construction clearly demonstrates an institutional COI, highlighting a direct financial tie that could influence organizational research agendas and priorities.
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