Conflicts of Interest and Commitment

(revised 1/26/21)

Harvard Chan School Policy on Conflict of Interests

To fully understand their obligations related to conflicts of interest, annual appointees should consult the school’s policy available online at https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/faculty-affairs/outside-activities/financial-conflicts-of-interest-and-outside-activity-and-interest-reporting/.  This policy is intended to serve as a guide for Harvard Chan School appointees in structuring their relationships with industry and other outside ventures in view of their academic responsibilities.

Annual appointees should also be advised that permission to undertake outside activities such as consulting must be sought from and given by the appointee’s department chair or supervisor.  At the beginning of each calendar year, annual appointees will be informed if they are required to report on their outside professional activities and financial interests.  Further, the school’s grants administration officers must confirm that a current disclosure form has been submitted by each investigator, whether full- or part-time at the school, before signing off on a submitted proposal for federal funding.  Finally, if the annual appointee’s department or program has additional reporting requirements, s/he will be informed of those requirements by the department or program.

Harvard Chan School Policy on Outside Professional Activities

Permission for annual appointees to undertake outside activities such as consulting must be sought from and given by the annual appointee’s department chair or supervisor.  If the department or program has additional requirements, the annual appointee will be informed of these by his/her department or program.