A conflict of interest (COI) management plan aims to manage, reduce, or eliminate conflicts so that research or organizational decisions remain objective, transparent, and trustworthy.

Core aim in one line

The COI management plan aims to protect the integrity and credibility of research or institutional decisions by identifying conflicts and putting concrete controls in place.

Key objectives

  • Identify and document relevant financial, personal, or professional interests that could bias judgment or appear to do so.
  • Evaluate how serious each disclosed conflict is and whether it is manageable, must be reduced, or should be eliminated.
  • Ensure transparency so that stakeholders (e.g., funders, participants, the public) understand where conflicts exist and how they are being handled.
  • Protect the objectivity and integrity of research data, publications, and decisions, maintaining public and regulatory trust.

Typical management strategies

  • Disclosure of the conflict in protocols, consent forms, publications, or internal documents.
  • Recusal from specific decisions (e.g., not serving on a review committee or not analyzing key study data).
  • Modification of the role (e.g., limiting access to certain information or shifting responsibilities).
  • Independent oversight or review by people without the conflict, such as an independent monitor or committee.
  • Divestiture or discontinuation of the conflicting financial interest or outside activity when necessary.

What it does not aim to do

  • It does not always eliminate every COI; rather, it focuses on managing disclosed conflicts to an acceptable level while allowing important research or activities to proceed ethically.
  • It is not just a paperwork exercise; it is meant to be an active, monitored framework with audits, reporting channels, and enforcement when people do not comply.

Short SEO-style meta description

A COI management plan aims to identify, disclose, and actively manage conflicts of interest to protect research integrity, ensure transparency, and maintain public trust in decisions and outcomes.