Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) Policy

Navrogen, Inc. follows federal rules to make sure its research, especially projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is objective and trustworthy. A financial conflict of interest (FCOI) happens when a researcher’s personal financial situation—like owning stock in a company or receiving outside income—could affect, or appear to affect, the way their research is designed, carried out, or reported. To prevent this, Navrogen requires researchers to disclose certain financial interests, such as payments, equity, intellectual property income, or sponsored travel. These disclosures must be made when applying for NIH funding, updated annually, and reported promptly if new interests arise. A designated official at Navrogen reviews these disclosures to decide if they relate to NIH-funded research and, if so, whether they create a conflict. If a conflict exists, Navrogen sets up a management plan, which may include public disclosure, independent oversight, or adjustments to the researcher’s role. Navrogen also ensures compliance through training, public transparency for senior personnel, monitoring, and reporting to NIH. Noncompliance can lead to corrective action. The ultimate goal is to protect research integrity, participant safety, and public trust.

Navrogen’s FCOI policy can be found here.