Proceedings of the Harvard Medical School Faculty Council: March 21, 2012
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Jeffrey S. Flier began the meeting with a summary of recent events that occurred at the New England Primate Research Center (NEPRC) and the school’s response. He also discussed the appointment of an Independent Review Committee comprised of external experts in the field who will make recommendations to the Dean. He reported that Deborah Kochevar, dean of Tufts University Veterinary School, has been appointed to chair the Committee.
He also reported that William Chin, executive dean for research, will serve as interim NEPRC director until a replacement is found. Mark Barnes, senior associate provost for research and compliance at Harvard University, and Richard Shea, HMS associate dean for campus planning and facilities, were appointed interim managing director and interim deputy managing director, respectively, as of March 1, 2012. Dean Flier expressed his appreciation of Fred Wang, who served as interim NEPRC director from September 2011 through February 2012.
After an executive session discussion, the excused guest faculty and staff were invited back into the meeting and Dean Flier introduced Gretchen Brodnicki, dean for faculty and research integrity, to give an update on the development of the HMS Conflict of Interest Policy. Brodnicki also introduced Kristin Bittinger, director of scientific integrity, who assisted with the presentation.
Brodnicki announced that faculty reporting of 2011 outside activities is scheduled for roll-out in mid-April 2012. She said that the annual reporting consolidation initiative had established an overall goal of requiring faculty to submit financial information and outside activities one time in a system designed to meet all necessary institutions’ reporting requirements; once collected, the information would be shared with all institutions. The proposed implementation of a consolidated reporting system was scheduled for a final decision during April 2012.
Brodnicki outlined changes in the new Public Health Service regulations including: a change in the Significant Financial Interest (SFI) definition which lowers the de minimis threshold to $5,000 for disclosure; SIFs include financial interests that are related to an investigator’s institutional responsibilities; additional reporting requirements on Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) to NIH; public accessibility; timing of reporting; and investigator training.
Dean Flier introduced David Golan, dean for graduate medical education and special advisor for Global Programs. Golan gave a brief history of global programs at HMS, including Dean Flier’s 2009 appointment of the HMS Standing Committee on Global Projects and Sites to review and provide oversight of the HMS global programs and to develop a strategic vision.
Golan presented the current portfolio of global programs and reviewed four global programs that are currently under discussion. He noted that the Standing Committee on Global Projects and Sites has drafted nine principles for a strategic vision.
Dean Flier adjourned the meeting.
