Compliance & Legal Operations

Scripps Research is committed to ensuring that such activities are conducted properly and consistently with the principles of openness, trust, and free inquiry. Scripps Research’s Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment (“Scripps Research’s Policy”):

• Provides ethical principles and guidance for Scripps Research faculty and others supporting the research enterprise in assessing their relationships and conduct with outside entities, so employees act in the best interests of the institute when performing their institutional responsibilities;

• Educates the Scripps Research community about situations that generate Conflicts of Interest and Commitment (including equity interests, such as stock, stock options or ownership interests, board of director or scientific advisory board memberships, consulting relationships, and any activity from which the individual derives legal obligations or expects to receive remuneration from an entity outside Scripps Research), and provides for management of those Conflicts;

• Promotes the best interests of students and others whose work depends on faculty direction; and

• Seeks to maintain the appropriate balance between competing interests having the potential to produce bias in the design, conduct, or reporting of the research, or mislead technology transfer transactions.

To submit a Conflicts of Interest & Commitment disclosure, click the button below.

Scripps Research’s Policy applies to all its employees, and all research staff conducting research with federal taxpayer dollars.

Scripps Research’s Policy is implemented in accordance with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2011 revised Public Health Service (PHS) regulations on Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for which PHS Funding is Sought (42 C.F.R. Part 50, Subpart F), referred to as the Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) regulations. These regulations, effective August 24, 2012, apply to any institution receiving funds from a PHS entity, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The FCOI regulations require public transparency of investigators’ FCOI management plans either by a publicly-accessible website or by a written response within five business days to a request for an institution’s financial conflict of interest policy.  This includes providing certain information regarding any key personnel whose significant financial interests are related to PHS-funded research. 

Scripps Research will make information available concerning identified FCOI’s held by senior/key personnel by a written response to any requestor within five business days of a request, and update such information as specified in the rule. Information provided will include the Investigator’s name; the Investigator’s title and role with respect to the research project; the name of the entity in which the Significant Financial Interest (SFI) is held; the nature of the SFI; and the approximate dollar value of the SFI, or a statement that the interest is one whose value cannot be readily determined through reference to public prices or other reasonable measures of fair market value.

To request information, please submit your formal request by emailing us. 

Scripps Research is committed to fostering a culture of integrity and ethical decision-making that encourages the disclosure of violations of law or Scripps Research policy, while protecting those who make good-faith reports from retaliation. An effective reporting system supplements and reinforces our other efforts to foster open channels of communication and promote a positive work environment.

We want you to feel comfortable in approaching your supervisor or management in instances where you believe violations of law or Scripps Research policy have occurred.

In situations where you prefer to place an anonymous report, you are encouraged to use this online module or hotline, hosted by a third-party provider, EthicsPoint. This resource is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your report.

The information you provide can be sent to us by EthicsPoint confidentially and anonymously if you select that option. You have our guarantee that your comments will be heard. Please note that if you choose to submit a report anonymously Scripps will be unable to follow up with you regarding the outcome of their review.

See the EthicsPoint FAQs for more information.