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		<title>Handling conflicts of interest in the UK</title>
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				current-module="Conflicts of Interest"
				page-title="Handling conflicts of interest in the UK"
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							<p>Although professional bodies, institutions, journals and research funders normally have their own conflict of interest policies, the UK does not have any overarching national policies. However, related guidance, such as the 'Nolan principles' of public life (see the "Useful links" pod), is available. Although these were originally written for holders of public office, they are very similar to the research integrity virtues mentioned in the module on "Good Research Conduct". The principles are as follows:</p>

							<ul>
								<li>Selflessness</li>
								<li>Integrity</li>
								<li>Objectivity</li>
								<li>Accountability</li>
								<li>Openness</li>
								<li>Honesty</li>
								<li>Leadership.</li>
							</ul>

							<p>Any person or institution receiving government funding must be aware of and adhere to the Nolan principles. This is in addition to the requirement that all researchers comply with the relevant conflict of interest policies produced by funders, journals, professional bodies and institutions.</p>

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								<pod-heading>Useful links</pod-heading> <!-- pod title -->
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								<pod-modal-heading>Useful links</pod-modal-heading>
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									<hosted-link id="RI_INT_coi_1_40">
										<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life" target="_blank">Nolan principles</a> </p>
										<p><a href="https://www.hra.nhs.uk/about-us/committees-and-services/nreap/" target="_blank">Download the document 'Regarding conflicts of interest' from the website of the National Research and Ethics Advisors' Panel.</a></p>
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							<h3>How research ethics committees judge conflicts of interest</h3>

							<p>Although institutions are primarily responsible for dealing with conflicts of interest, research ethics committees (RECs) will consider potential conflicts of interest when reviewing projects. In 2012, the National Research Ethics Advisors Panel (NREAP) published helpful guidance (see the "Useful links" pod) on how RECs should assess conflicts of interest when reviewing projects. Even if your research does not require formal review by a REC, you may find this guidance helpful.</p>

							<instructional-text>
								<p>Click on each segment to discover the considerations you should have in mind when
									thinking about the questions that RECs might raise in relation to conflicts of interest.
									The text of this activity is based on the guidance of the NREAP (Health Research
									Authority, 2012, p. 4).</p>
							</instructional-text>
							<accessible-text><p>Continue on to discover the considerations you should have in mind when thinking about the questions that RECs might raise in relation to conflicts of interest. The information in this activity is based on the guidance of the NREAP (Health Research Authority, 2012, p. 4).</p></accessible-text>
							
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									<node-heading>Questions RECs should ask about conflicts of interest</node-heading>
								</central-concept>
								<concept-nodes>
									<concept-node>
										<node-heading>Do the researchers have any possible competing interests?
										</node-heading>
										<node-content>
											<p>To address competing interests, the research team should:</p>
											<ul>
												<li>Demonstrate that they recognise and acknowledge any conflicts of
													interest</li>
												<li>Consider sharing responsibilities (such as participant screening)
													with independent parties </li>
												<li>Consider divesting responsibility for the research (or certain aspects of the research) to independent parties</li>
												<li>Consider arranging independent trial management/monitoring </li>
												<li>Consider allowing participants access to unbiased information
													(perhaps through a third party)</li>
												<li>Specify whether they are free to publish data (even if they are
													not). </li>
											</ul>
										</node-content>
									</concept-node>
									<concept-node>
										<node-heading>Does the research design address potential conflicts of interests?
										</node-heading>
										<node-content>
											<p>Scientific/peer review should specifically consider any contentious or
												sensitive areas, and whether appropriate methods have been chosen.</p>
										</node-content>
									</concept-node>
									<concept-node>
										<node-heading>Will control of the data rest in inappropriate hands (i.e. those with particular interests)?</node-heading>
										<node-content>
											<p>The research team should define ownership of, access to and rights over the data in advance to ensure that the results are not unreasonably restricted.</p>
										</node-content>
									</concept-node>
									<concept-node>
										<node-heading>Will the study be rewritten once data is collected to suit other
											interests?</node-heading>
										<node-content>
											<p>To guard against this, the research team should:</p>
											<ul>
												<li>Clarify before the study starts how results will be made publicly
													available and analysed </li>
												<li>Consider publishing the protocol before the study commences (this is
													especially true for clinical trials).</li>
											</ul>
										</node-content>
									</concept-node>
									<concept-node>
										<node-heading>Do the researchers have freedom to publish results (including negative results)?</node-heading>
										<node-content>
											<p>To ensure they have freedom to publish their results, the research team
												should:</p>
											<ul>
												<li>Agree a plan in advance on how results will be shared and published
													(i.e. a data management plan)</li>
												<li>Be encouraged to make research datasets publicly available. </li>
											</ul>
										</node-content>
									</concept-node>
									<concept-node>
										<node-heading>Have alternative voices been heard and incorporated?</node-heading>
										<node-content>
											<p>To address this question, the research team should involve participants in the design of the study and/or ensure adequate, independent peer review.</p>
										</node-content>
									</concept-node>
								</concept-nodes>
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							<!-- ACCESSIBLE START -->
							<accessible-block>
								<h4>Do the researchers have any possible competing interests?</h4>
								<p>To address competing interests, the research team should:</p>
								<ul>
									<li>Demonstrate that they recognise and acknowledge any conflicts of
										interest</li>
									<li>Consider sharing responsibilities (such as participant screening)
										with independent parties </li>
									<li>Consider divesting responsibility for the research (or certain aspects of the research) to independent parties</li>
									<li>Consider arranging independent trial management/monitoring </li>
									<li>Consider allowing participants access to unbiased information
										(perhaps through a third party)</li>
									<li>Specify whether they are free to publish data (even if they are
										not). </li>
								</ul>
								<hr>
								<h4>Does the research design address potential conflicts of interests? </h4>
								<p>Scientific/peer review should specifically consider any contentious or sensitive areas, and whether appropriate methods have been chosen.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Will control of the data rest in inappropriate hands (i.e. those with particular interests)?</h4>
								<p>The research team should define ownership of, access to and rights over the data in advance to ensure that the results are not unreasonably restricted.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Will the study be rewritten once data is collected to suit other interests?</h4>
								<p>To guard against this, the research team should:</p>
								<ul>
									<li>Clarify before the study starts how results will be made publicly
										available and analysed </li>
									<li>Consider publishing the protocol before the study commences (this is
										especially true for clinical trials).</li>
								</ul>
								<hr>
								<h4>Do the researchers have freedom to publish results (including negative results)?</h4>
								<p>To ensure they have freedom to publish their results, the research team
									should:</p>
								<ul>
									<li>Agree a plan in advance on how results will be shared and published
										(i.e. a data management plan)</li>
									<li>Be encouraged to make research datasets publicly available. </li>
								</ul>
								<hr>
								<h4>Have alternative voices been heard and incorporated?</h4>
								<p>To address this question, the research team should involve participants in the design of the study and/or ensure adequate, independent peer review.</p>
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							<h3>Summary</h3>

							<p>Researchers in the UK have the same general responsibilities in relation to conflicts of interest as researchers in any country. You can normally meet these responsibilities by ensuring that you are aware of and adhere to any policies produced by your institution, funder, professional body or journal. Ensuring your work is reviewed by an ethics committee is another good way of helping to identify, and then act on, any bias that may be caused by conflicts of interest.</p>

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