Introduction

To minimize the influence of conflicts of interest (COI) within the SPOR Evidence Alliance and all its research activities, it is crucial to uphold standards that are rigorous and transparent with regards to the scientific approaches used, and the reporting and sharing of research findings.

Disclosure of COI

Members may be required to complete any of the COI disclosures listed below based on their activity within the network:

Annual declaration: Mandatory for all query research teams and members of the governance structure. All other members are encouraged to complete an annual declaration, but not required until they become actively involved in a research project, governance or any working groups.
Ad-hoc declaration: Members must update their declarations if their COI changes (i.e., at the onset and during a research project engagement).

Management of COI

All COI forms are completed using the web-based form. Upon submission of the form, individuals will receive an automatic email copy of their submission for their records.If a significant COI exists that cannot be resolved, the Nominated Principal Investigator (NPI) and the Executive Committee (EC) may take the following action:

Allow participation, but with a COI management plan in place with periodic check-ins, or
Withdraw participation from an engagement.

The The NPI and EC may launch an investigation into a member suspected of withholding COI information, or failing to adhere to a COI management plan. If the member is found to be in contempt, the NPI and EC may: (1) Prohibit future participation in a particular SPOR Evidence Alliance or committee (2) Prohibit future participation in the SPOR Evidence Alliance. Members can exercise their right to appeal the results of an investigation.