Overview of MIT Conflict of Interest Policies

Conflicts of interest can arise in a range of institutional contexts. In the research environment, they can adversely affect objectivity and public trust. The Institute’s conflict of interest (COI) policies are designed to uphold the integrity of research while supporting the goals of MIT researchers:

The policies serve specific purposes to ensure legal compliance and alignment with MIT’s mission and the expectations of research sponsors. MIT works with researchers to manage conflicts whenever possible, so that their research goals can generally be achieved. 

Key Principles

  • People-Centric Approach: Recognizing that people drive fundamental research, we emphasize understanding the researchers' end goals as a critical starting point.
  • Policy as a Framework: Policies are structures that facilitate achieving research objectives. Researchers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with relevant policies and seek clarification early and often.
  • Clear Processes: The policies are implemented through processes that gather and review information at key stages. This helps each member of the MIT community determine necessary actions to identify and manage potential conflicts.
  • Collaborative Partnerships: MIT fosters relationships with key offices to ensure balanced and thoughtful decision-making. The management strategies are tailored to individual circumstances rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.

Understanding Financial Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment

A real or perceived conflict of interest may arise when financial interests or other personal considerations, such as Outside Professional Activities, have the potential to compromise, or appear to compromise, an individual’s professional judgment or objectivity in performing their Institutional Responsibilities, including but not limited to the design, conduct, or reporting of research. Such conflicts may involve financial gain or competing obligations or influences that risk undermining the integrity, quality, or effectiveness of an individual’s work on behalf of the institution.

  • A Significant Financial Interest (SFI) is a financial interest held by an Investigator or a Family member which appears to be Reasonably Related to their Institutional Responsibilities and which meet institutional and legal definitions of “significant.” Having an SFI is not necessarily a conflict of interest. If an SFI is determined to have an impact on the design, conduct or reporting of MIT research, it is considered a financial conflict of interest in research (FCOI), which then must be managed appropriately.

  • A conflict of commitment (COC) arises when an employee’s outside activities interfere, compete with, or detract from their ability to perform their MIT duties. A COC may occur when an individual accepts or incurs conflicting obligations or responsibilities, such as when pursuing Outside Professional Activities (OPA).