Conflict of Interest and Commitment

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is committed to conducting independent and fundamental research that upholds the highest scientific standards of integrity. This commitment is a core value of the institution. WHOI recognizes its dedication to innovative research opens up opportunities beyond the research itself. Additionally, the institution acknowledges that employees may have professional relationships outside of WHOI.

The Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment policy reinforces WHOI’s dedication to research independence and integrity. The policy encourages commercialization and support the talents of WHOI employees who engage in outside professional relationships, while ensuring they fulfill their ongoing obligations to the Institution.

The 2024 Annual Disclosure must be submitted through Streamlyne by January 31, 2025.

Who Completes COI Disclosure

All personnel at WHOI are required to disclose annually their outside professional activities and significant financial interest in entities that could be related to funded research or work at WHOI. Updates are required within 30 days for changes and new activities and financial interests. Failure to complete required disclosures will delay proposal submission to an agency and may affect establishment of awards.

WHOI personnel include scientific, technical, administrative staff and all other employees, post-doctoral fellows/ investigators/ scholars, and anyone with a WHOI appointment. Only MIT-WHOI JP students; WHOI Guest Students; and non-employees with a WHOI appointment who have received less than $5,000 from WHOI in the past year (e.g., MIT faculty with a WHOI faculty appointment, Guest Investigators, and Visiting Scholars) are excepted from this policy

Anyone named on a proposal must file a disclosure—this includes MIT-WHOI JP students, WHOI Guest Students, and non-employees with a WHOI appointment.

WHOI employees and others with WHOI email and LDAP will make disclosures through Streamlyne. 

• Disclosure link for WHOI employees, Emeriti and affiliates with WHOI credentials (WHOI username/password for SSO).

Conflict of Interest Training

Conflict of Interest training is required of all PIs and many staff members (see Training List) every 4 years. The training is on-line, and you must first register at the training site. The results of your training will be stored in a database and are reflected in your Streamlyne disclosure at the Reporter tab. If you do not see your CITI training in the Reporter section of the Streamlyne disclosure, you may need to add your CITI Learner ID to your Streamlyne record. Please contact your Department/Center Administrator or email to coi@whoi.edu for instructions.

Instructions to register for COI training

1. WHOI employees and individuals with WHOI email and LDAP password
2. Individuals without WHOI email and LDAP password

Public Health Services Financial Conflict of Interest

Individuals planning to submit proposals to or who have ongoing research funds from any Public Health Services Agency (e.g. NIH, CDC) will complete additional questions within the Streamlyne disclosure. This process replaces the PHS Financial Conflict of Interest Form (FCOI), which will no longer be used.

Relevant links:

• Public Health Services Agency financial disclosure and training requirements: See Policies & Procedures and Conflict of Interest for Public Health Service Agencies (NIH, CDC, FDA)

Forms and Policies

Conflict of Interest and Outside Professional Activities Policy

COI Addendum for PHS Investigators

**The Addendum is currently being updated. For specific questions related to the Addendum, please email coi@whoi.edu (1/5/2024)**