University policy and federal law requires that inventions resulting from federally funded research must be disclosed to the Office of Technology Transfer.
Human Research Protection
All research conducted by the university’s faculty members, staff members, and students that meets the federal definition of human subjects research must be reviewed and approved by the UCF Institutional Review Board, or its designated reviewing authority, prior to any research engagement with human participants. Entities and/or individuals outside of the university engaged (conducting or supporting) in human subjects research in collaboration with university investigators must have an assurance or other acceptable means of compliance approved by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) within the US Public Health Service (e.g., Individual Investigator Agreement).
Research Misconduct Policy
University faculty members, staff members, students, and affiliates will not fabricate, falsify, or plagiarize in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. The university and its faculty members, staff members , students, and affiliates engaged in research activity will fully comply with federal agency regulations, state ethical statutes, and university policies and procedures in conducting research and will report allegations of research misconduct to the research integrity officer for review. University faculty members, staff members, and students responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of the research must meet federal and university research misconduct training requirements. The university will foster research integrity by providing research misconduct training to faculty members, staff members, and students engaged in research activity, and informing them of the university’s policies and procedures regarding responsible conduct in research.
Reporting a Potential Conflict of Interest of Conflict of Commitment
As part of UCF’s metropolitan research university mission, the university encourages its employees to participate in sponsored research, consulting, and other activities that may benefit the participants, UCF, and the public. In doing so, UCF employees are obligated to act in the best interest of the university and ensure that outside activities or outside financial interests do not interfere with their obligation to the university. When a situation arises that generates a potential conflict of interest or commitment, or the appearance of a conflict, the employee must report the activity. The disclosure form is subject to review by the employee’s supervisor and other university personnel. Management of a potential conflict of interest or commitment is determined on a caseby- case basis. (See forms in the RELATED DOCUMENTS section).
About Conflict of Interest
All potential conflicts of interest require disclosure to prevent the appearance of impropriety. Financial interests and other external commitments are not necessarily prohibited, and may be situational reality that cannot be avoided. Common examples of conflicts of interest in research can include (but are not limited to):
- Conducting research, testing, clinical trials, or other sponsored activity for a company in which the PI, CoPI, and/or their families have a financial interest as defined by applicable policies,
- Hiring and supervision of family members on a contract or grant,
- Inclusion of spouse or other family members as CoPI, key personnel, or subcontractors at another institution,
- Subcontracting or procuring services on a contract or grant from a company owner by the PI, CoPI, or their family,
- Serving as a consultant or engaging in other outside activities with a company or entity that funds sponsored research at the University,
- Engaging in a SBIR/STTR program with a company in which the PI and/or CoPI have a financial interest.
Export Compliance
The University of Central Florida is committed to complying with the export and sanction regulations of the United States.
Ethics and Compliance
The ORC offeres a variety of teams and tools to assure research conducted at UCF adheres with regulatory guidelines and meets the highest standards of responsible conduct.
Office of Research and Commercialization Policies and Procedures
The ORC serves UCF scholars as the official liaison between UCF and funding sources and by helping faculty work through the proposal and contract management process.