Implementation of financial disclosure policies to manage conflicts of interest

Amid concerns that clinical and basic research is increasingly vulnerable to pressure from industry sponsors, many federal agencies and professional organizations are recommending new or revised policies regardingfinancial disclosure and conflicts of interest. Despite pressure for greater external regulation and common professional standards, little is known about how existing policies are implemented. We analyze the implementation of conflict-of-interest policies within the multicampus University of California system. We show that there is variation among campuses in defining problematic relationships and in determining appropriate remedies to mitigate conflicts of interest. Our study suggests the importance of local culture and context for institutional decision making.