United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-04-30 monographic deposited born digital 29 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-319 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319 P0b002ee180380ae3 f:d07319 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319 GAO-07-319 Conflict of interests Employee training Ethical conduct Federal regulations Medical research Policy evaluation Reporting requirements Requirements definition Written communication Peer review Policies and procedures Other Written Product A68945 To safeguard the integrity of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research, government employees who have significant decision-making responsibilities and peer reviewers who evaluate the scientific and technical merit of research funding requests should be free from conflicts of interest. One method to resolve a conflict of interest is recusal, which is accomplished by not participating in work that will affect a personal interest or involves a personal relationship. GAO reported on (1) how NIH informs senior employees about recusal and what the requirements are for them to notify supervisors, and (2) how NIH informs peer reviewers about recusal and how NIH monitors their compliance with recusals. GAO reviewed relevant NIH policy manual chapters and NIH guidance and interviewed NIH officials. GAO selected NIH's National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the review because they have the largest budgets at NIH. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319.pdf GAO-07-319 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-319 Other Written Product GAO-07-319; NIH Conflict of Interest: Recusal Policies for Senior Employees Need Clarification; Conflict of interests Employee training Ethical conduct Federal regulations Medical research Policy evaluation Reporting requirements Requirements definition Written communication Peer review Policies and procedures