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Recent criminal cases against scientists at the University of Kansas, Harvard University, and Emory University who allegedly did not follow the rules for the disclosure of relationships with foreign entities have prompted an important examination within the scientific community to ensure researchers are abiding by the law. While federal agencies claim that the rules for disclosing such ties are “not new, but rather a long-standing requirement,” many academic groups, including the Counsel on Governmental Relations, argue that agency enforcement and interpretation of those rules have changed dramatically since 2018.
To help scientists make sure their relationships to foreign governments are above board, we outline here the requirements of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and note where significant differences among agencies exist. NIH requires the disclosure of financial conflicts of interest, foreign components, and “other support.” Alleged failures to disclose other support have come under the ...
