1. Determine whether you have a Reportable Outside Activity (ROA). Any work, advice or service for an entity other than Purdue University may constitute an ROA. (Review the definition of ROA at: https://www.purdue.edu/policies/ethics/iiib1.html#definitions, if needed). If you are not sure whether you have an ROA, contact your Supervisor, Department Head, or vpec@purdue.edu, for help in making your determination.
   
   Action: If you do have an ROA, then fill out a request for approval by your Unit Head/Dean at: https://webapps.ecn.purdue.edu/VPEC/ROA.
2. Determine whether you have a financial interest related to a Purdue purchase/procurement from, or contract/sub-contract to, an outside entity/company in which you have an ownership interest (i.e., instances when funds are to be transferred from Purdue to that entity). If you do, you must obtain approval from the Board of Trustees before a purchase/procurement/contract/subcontract is made.
   
   Action: Complete a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement at https://www.purdue.edu/ethics/documents/ConflictofInterestDisclosureStatement.pdf and then submit your disclosure to vpec@purdue.edu or fcoi@purdue.edu (if the financial interest is related to research).
3. If you are an Investigator on sponsored research project(s), determine whether you have a Significant Financial Interest (SFI) related to your projects (or your institutional responsibilities, if funded by PHS/NIH). Receiving more than $5,000 in compensation from, or having ownership interests in, outside entities, constitute SFIs that need to be disclosed. Definitions of SFI, Investigator and Institutional Responsibilities, can be found at https://www.purdue.edu/policies/ethics/iiib2.html#definitions. If you are not sure whether you have an SFI, contact fcoi@purdue.edu for help in making a determination.
   
   Action: If you do have an SFI, fill out your project-based Financial Interest Statement(s) and your Research Related Significant Financial Interest Disclosure at: https://webapps.ecn.purdue.edu/VPR/PDD
4. If your research projects involve human subjects or living vertebrate animals, determine whether you have an SFI related to protocols you submit to IRB and/or IACUC.
   
   Action: If you do, disclose your Significant Financial Interests by responding to the SFI/COI questions on the applicable protocol forms/online applications.
5. If you are a voting member of a University Regulatory Committee (Institutional Review Boards, Purdue Animal Care and Use Committee, and/or Institutional Biosafety Committee), determine whether you have a Significant Financial Interest (or personal or professional relationship) that may reasonably appear to be related to a protocol which is to be reviewed by the Board or Committee.
   
   Action: If you do, disclose your SFI or personal/professional relationship to the respective Board or Committee chairperson and recuse yourself from the review of that protocol.
6. If you are an Investigator/Entrepreneur associated with outside entities, determine whether your role in the third party creates a conflict of interest with respect to Purdue research activities and/or Institutional Responsibilities.
   
   Action: Contact the Responsible Official (fcoi@purdue.edu) for help in determining whether your role in the third party creates, or may create, a research related conflict of interest with respect to Purdue research activities and/or Institutional Responsibilities.

Related Resources

• Research related financial interests – EVPRP: fcoi@purdue.edu
• Financial interests in purchasing/procurement – VPEC: vpec@purdue.edu
• IP disclosure and licensing – PRF/Office of Technology Commercialization
• New Start-up companies – Purdue Foundry
• Financial interests in research with Human Subjects – IRB