Proteinaceous Financial Conflicts of Interest (FCOI) Policy

Policy Statement

Proteinaceous, Inc. (“Proteinaceous”) is committed to protecting the integrity and objectivity of its research activities by ensuring that the design, conduct, and reporting of research will not be biased or appear to be biased by a personal financial conflict of interest. Proteinaceous has implemented this policy to identify, manage, reduce, or eliminate financial conflicts of interest.

Reasons for this Policy

This Policy is written to conform to the Public Health Service regulations regarding Financial Conflicts of Interest, 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, Subpart F. These regulations require that all individuals who participate in the design, conduct, or reporting of Research funded by the Public Health Service (“PHS”) complete training on financial conflicts and disclose personal financial interests that could give rise to an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict.

Definitions

For purposes of this policy, the following definitions shall apply:

Designated Official is the individual designated by Proteinaceous to oversee the financial conflicts of interest process, including solicitation and review of disclosures of significant financial interests.
Equity interest includes any stock, stock option, or other ownership interest, and its value may be determined through reference to public prices or other reasonable measures of fair market value.
Financial conflict of interest means a significant financial interest that could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct, or reporting of research as determined by Proteinaceous through the Designated Official.
Financial interest means anything of monetary value, whether or not the value is readily ascertainable.
Immediate family refers to an Investigator’s spouse and dependent children.
Investigator means the project director/principal investigator and any other person who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of the research or proposed research.
PHS means the U.S. Public Health Service, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and any components of the PHS to which the authority involved may be delegated, including the National Institutes of Health.
PHS Awarding Component means the organizational unit of the PHS that funds the research that is subject to 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart F, and 45 CFR Part 94.
PHS-funded Research means research funded under PHS grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts.
Public Health Service Act, or PHS Act, means the statute codified at 42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.
Remuneration includes, for example, salary and any payment for services not otherwise identified as salary (e.g., consulting fees, honoraria, paid authorship).
Research means a systematic investigation, study, or experiment designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge relating broadly to public health, including behavioral and social sciences research. The term encompasses basic and applied research (e.g., a published article, book, or book chapter) and product development (e.g., a diagnostic test or drug). For PHS-Funded Research, the term includes any such activity for which research funding is available from a PHS Awarding Component through a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract, whether authorized under the PHS Act or other statutory authority.
Significant financial interest means a financial interest consisting of one or more of the following interests of the Investigator and their immediate family that reasonably appear to be related to the Investigator’s Proteinaceous project responsibilities, including:
- With regard to interests in any publicly traded entity, a financial interest consisting of any remuneration received from the entity in the 12 months preceding the disclosure and any equity interest (e.g., stock, stock option, or other ownership interest) in the entity as of the date of disclosure, in which the value when aggregated exceeds $5,000;
- With regard to interests in any non-publicly traded entity, a financial interest consisting of any remuneration received from the entity in the 12 months preceding the disclosure, in which the value when aggregated exceeds $5,000, or when the Investigator or their immediate family holds any equity interest (e.g., stock, stock option, or other ownership interest);
- Intellectual property rights and interests (e.g., patents, copyrights), upon receipt of income related to such rights and interests;
- Any third party reimbursed or sponsored travel (i.e., that which is paid on behalf of the Investigator and/or the Investigator’s spouse, domestic partner and dependent children) that is related to the Investigator’s Institutional Responsibilities. This disclosure requirement excludes travel paid for by Proteinaceous or travel that is reimbursed or sponsored by an U.S. Federal, state, or local government agency, an Institution of higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001(a), an academic teaching hospital, a medical center, or a research institute that is affiliated with an Institution of higher education; or
- Holding any position of influence (e.g., director, officer, trustee, dean, or faculty) in a non- Proteinaceous entity.
Significant financial interests also include any reimbursed or sponsored travel (i.e., that which is paid on behalf of the Investigator and not reimbursed to the Investigator so that the exact monetary value may not be readily available) related to the Investigator’s Proteinaceous project responsibilities, provided, however, that this disclosure requirement does not apply to travel that is reimbursed or sponsored by a Federal, state, or local government agency; an institution of higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001(a); an academic teaching hospital; a medical center; or a research institute that is affiliated with an institution of higher education.

Significant financial interest does not include the following:
- Salary, royalties, or other remuneration paid by Proteinaceous (or a subrecipient as applicable) to the Investigator if the Investigator is currently employed or otherwise appointed by Proteinaceous, including that paid for intellectual property rights assigned or licensed to Proteinaceous and agreements to share in royalties related to such rights;
- Any ownership interest in Proteinaceous (or a subrecipient as applicable) held by the Investigator (e.g., Employee Stock Ownership Plan);
- Income from investment vehicles, such as mutual funds and retirement accounts, as long as the Investigator does not directly control the investment decisions made in these vehicles;
- Income from seminars, lectures, or teaching engagements sponsored by a Federal, state, or local government agency; an institution of higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001(a); an academic teaching hospital; a medical center; or a research institute that is affiliated with an institution of higher education; or
- Income from service on advisory committees or review panels for a Federal, state, or local government agency; an institution of higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001(a); an academic teaching hospital; a medical center; or a research institute that is affiliated with an institution of higher education.

Procedures

1. Responsibilities of Proteinaceous’ Designated Official

The Designated Official or their designee shall be responsible for the following:

Informing Proteinaceous Investigators of their obligations under this policy and any related regulations;
Reviewing disclosures of significant financial interest with Proteinaceous’ Administrator to determine whether they are related to the subject research and, if so, whether they constitute financial conflicts of interest;
Screening and managing potential financial conflicts of interest;
Maintaining all records relating to disclosures of financial interests, Proteinaceous’ review of and response to such disclosures, and any related actions under this policy;
Ensuring inclusion of any required certifications in applications for funding or contract proposals; and
Reporting and disclosure as required under this policy and applicable regulations.

For PHS-funded research, the Designated Official shall also have the following responsibility:

Taking reasonable steps to ensure that Investigators for subrecipients (e.g., subgrantees, subcontractors, or collaborators) fully comply with this policy or provide Proteinaceous with sufficient assurances to enable Proteinaceous’ compliance with all applicable laws or regulations. To this end, the written agreement between Proteinaceous and the subrecipient will specify whether Proteinaceous’ or the subrecipient’s financial conflicts of interest policy will apply to the subrecipient’s Investigators and, if the subrecipient’s policy will apply, the Designated Official will:
- Obtain certification from the subrecipient that its policy complies with Proteinaceous’ policy and the applicable regulations (absent such certification, Proteinaceous’ policy will apply to the subrecipient’s Investigators, and
- Establish time periods for subrecipient reporting of financial conflicts of interest to Proteinaceous that enable Proteinaceous to report such conflicts in a timely manner, as required under its policy and the applicable regulations.

If Proteinaceous’ policy will apply to the subrecipient Investigators, Proteinaceous will be responsible for meeting the requirements of this policy and the reporting obligations reflected in the applicable regulations.

2. Internal Reporting Requirements

For PHS-funded research in particular, as part of the funding application or proposal and prior to performing any work on the research, each Investigator who is planning to participate in the research is required by regulation to complete a Significant Financial Interest Disclosure (SFID) Form and submit the SFID Form to Proteinaceous’ Administrator. This requirement also applies to Investigators who are or who work for subgrantees, subcontractors, or collaborators on PHS-funded research. SFID Forms will be provided to Investigators in conjunction with the annual training and will be otherwise made available. Proteinaceous’ Administrator will review SFID submissions with the Designated Official. The information reported on the SFID Form includes a listing of the Investigator’s known significant financial interests and those of their immediate family that reasonably appear to be related to the research or that are in entities whose financial interests could be affected by the research.

Proteinaceous Investigators in non-PHS-funded research who have any significant financial interest that may reasonably appear to be affected by the research are also expected to complete the SFID Form and submit it to Proteinaceous’ Administrator.

Investigators are expected to submit an updated SFID Form during the period of the award as necessary (at least annually for PHS-funded research). The annual update will typically be done in conjunction with completion of the annual training. Such disclosures shall include any information that was not previously disclosed; any change in information regarding any previously disclosed significant financial interest; or, within 30 days of discovery or acquisition, any new significant financial interest (e.g., an interest acquired through purchase, marriage, or inheritance).

3. Determination and Management of Financial Conflicts of Interest

Upon receipt of a completed SFID Form, the Designated Official shall determine whether an Investigator’s significant financial interest is related to the subject research and, if so, whether the interest constitutes a financial conflict of interest under this policy and any applicable regulations. The Investigator may be required to submit additional information as part of the process. A disclosed interest may be related to the subject research either because the interest could be affected by the research or because it is in an entity whose financial interest could be affected by the research. A financial conflict of interest exists if the significant financial interest could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct, or reporting of the research.

If Proteinaceous determines that a financial conflict of interest exists, a financial conflicts of interest management plan will be implemented and monitored on an ongoing basis. The management plan will include appropriate steps to manage, reduce, or eliminate the conflict. The following are examples of conditions or restrictions that might be imposed:

Disclosure to research participants or the public of significant financial interests (e.g., when presenting or publishing the research);
Monitoring of research by independent reviewers;
Modification of the research plan;
Disqualification of staff from participation in all or a portion of the research;
Reduction or divestiture of a financial interest; or
Severance of relationships that create actual or potential conflicts.

In addition to the conditions or restrictions described above, Proteinaceous may require the management of conflicting financial interests in other ways as it deems appropriate.

4. External Reporting Requirements

Proteinaceous will disclose financial conflicts of interest as required by applicable laws or regulations. Before expending any funds under a PHS award, Proteinaceous will ensure public accessibility by posting financial conflicts of interest information on a publicly available web site or by responding in a timely manner to written requests as required under the regulations. The Designated Official will also report to the PHS Awarding Component, as detailed in the regulations, the existence of any financial conflict of interest that has not been eliminated and will ensure that Proteinaceous has implemented a plan to manage the conflict.

If a financial conflict of interest is identified after its initial reporting and during ongoing research (e.g., through participation of a new Investigator) and has not been eliminated, Proteinaceous will provide the PHS Awarding Component with an update within 60 days and ensure that it has implemented a plan to manage the conflict. If the financial conflicts of interest report involves a significant financial interest that was not disclosed by an Investigator or not previously reviewed or managed by Proteinaceous (e.g., not reviewed or reported by a subrecipient in a timely manner), Proteinaceous will undertake a retrospective review. Such retrospective review will determine whether there was bias in the design, conduct, or reporting of the PHS-funded research, or portion thereof, conducted prior to the identification and management of the conflict. If bias is found, Proteinaceous will promptly notify the PHS Awarding Component and submit a mitigation report. Upon request, Proteinaceous will provide HHS with information relating to any Investigator disclosure of significant financial interests; Proteinaceous’ review of, and response to, such disclosure; and whether the disclosure resulted in Proteinaceous’ determination of a financial conflict of interest.

5. Confidentiality

Proteinaceous will, to the extent possible, protect the confidentiality of disclosures. In every instance, Proteinaceous will endeavor to balance the privacy interests of individuals with its responsibility and obligation to identify and manage conflicts of interest. Disclosures will be available to Proteinaceous staff only on a need-to-know basis and will not be disclosed outside of Proteinaceous unless necessary to comply with contractual, legal, or regulatory requirements.

6. Investigator Noncompliance

If an Investigator knowingly fails to comply with this policy (e.g., fails to identify an actual or potential financial conflict of interest), Proteinaceous may take appropriate disciplinary action, which may include, without limitation, termination of the Investigator’s participation in the research. In addition, for PHS-funded research, failure to comply with this policy or the applicable regulations shall result in the following:

If the Investigator’s failure to comply with this policy or a financial conflicts of interest management plan has biased the design, conduct, or reporting of the PHS-funded research, Proteinaceous shall promptly notify the PHS Awarding Component of the corrective action taken or to be taken;

Proteinaceous will make available to HHS all records pertinent to financial conflicts of interest and the management of those conflicts.

7. Training and Education

Investigators will receive training to promote objectivity in research and to ensure Investigator compliance with regard to the applicable regulations and significant financial interest disclosure obligations. The training module and other resources developed by NIH will be updated as appropriate and can be accessed through the NIH Web site.

Proteinaceous requires Investigators to complete such training annually, and when any of the following occurs:

Proteinaceous revises its financial conflicts of interest policy or procedures in any manner that affects the Investigator’s obligations;

An Investigator is new to Proteinaceous; or

Proteinaceous finds that an Investigator is not in compliance with this policy or a financial conflicts of interest management plan.

Retention of Records

The Designated Official will retain financial conflicts of interest disclosure forms. For PHS-funded research, records of all financial disclosures and all actions taken by Proteinaceous with respect to each one will be retained for at least 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditures report or, where applicable, from other dates specified in 45 CFR 75.

Point of Contact

If you have a conflict of interest to discuss, contact the Proteinaceous Policy Administrator via the Proteinaceous Contact Us page.

Proteinaceous, Inc. Financial Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form

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