Established by the Chancellor in the mid-1980s, the Conflict of Interest Review Committee (CIRC) is a peer review panel composed of faculty from a broad cross section of academic disciplines throughout campus. The CIRC is responsible for reviewing personal financial interests disclosed by UCLA researchers, making determinations about whether those outside financial interests constitute conflicts of interest, and making recommendations about how those conflicts of interest can be eliminated, reduced, or managed so that research awards can be accepted and work can commence. In this role, the CIRC serves as the substantive independent review committee required under the State of California Political Reform Act and as the “designated official(s)” required under federal policy/regulation on financial conflicts of interest related to research.
To fulfill its mandate, the CIRC conducts individualized reviews. These reviews take into account factors such as the nature and magnitude of the disclosed financial interest(s), the type of research, and the investigators’ role/responsibilities to identify situations in which financial or other personal considerations may impact the proposed research.
The CIRC is advisory to the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR). Members are appointed by the Chancellor, generally for three-year terms, and the VCR selects a current member to serve as Chair. If the VCR has a conflict of interest that requires recusal from a particular case, the Vice Chancellor – Academic Personnel will serve instead as the campus official who receives the CIRC’s advice.
CIRC meetings are held approximately once a month. To ensure timely distribution of the letters from the VCR summarizing the outcome of the CIRC review, PDFs are sent via email.
Investigators are encouraged to consult with Ann Pollack, Associate Vice Chancellor – Research, or Claudia Modlin, Assistant Director, if they have questions about engaging in activities that might create potential conflicts, the campus conflict of interest review process, or the CIRC’s determinations. Investigators are also welcome to meet with the CIRC to provide clarification or additional information or to respond to questions posed by the CIRC. Investigators who wish to meet with the CIRC should contact Ann Pollack at Research Policy and Compliance at extension 40387 or by email at apollack@research.ucla.edu.
The Conflict of Interest Review Committee
| Name | School/Department |
|---|---|
| Michael Roth, MD (chair) | David Geffen School of Medicine/Department of Medicine |
| Tara Aghaloo, MD, DDS, PhD | School of Dentistry |
| Tomas Ganz, MD, PhD | David Geffen School of Medicine/Departments of Medicine and Pathology |
| Kevin Gerson, JD | School of Law |
| Robert M’Closkey, PhD | Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences/Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Caius Radu, MD | David Geffen School of Medicine/Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology |
| Olav Sorenson, PhD | Anderson School of Management |
| Sarah Tolbert, PhD | School of Letters and Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry |