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Overview
All sponsored research agreements are subject to basic research policies enacted by the Corporation and the individual faculties. Below is a brief summary of these policies as they apply to the conduct of sponsored research. For research policies and procedures specific to your school, we refer you to the following list. If your school is not listed, please contact the Dean's Office within your tub.
Confidentiality and Publication
The University does not accept or agree to keep as confidential or proprietary, information that is germane to the work, required for publication of meaningful results and findings, and/or necessary for the verification of results by other scholars. The University will on occasion accept proprietary information from a sponsor provided acceptance is unlikely to preclude meaningful reporting of research results. The FAS permits institutional acceptance only in exceptional cases with the approval of the dean/designee.
Harvard does not accept publication restrictions in terms of content and timing of the release of findings, except for a 30+30 delay when patents are at stake.
Disclosure of Sponsor
The University allows anonymous gifts but expects the identity of a sponsor to be disclosed.
Classified Research
The University does not accept classified research. The PI must be able to report research results, although data that identify individuals, organizations or groups may be retained as confidential.
Technical Direction
The PI is solely responsible for the direction and management of the project and its outcomes. The University does not accept terms that would place the PI and his/her team under the direction or supervision of the sponsor.
PI Control of Conduct of Research
Unilateral changes by the sponsor are not permitted unless the agreement can be terminated if the changes are unacceptable.
Approval of Staff
The sponsor may only approve the PI; sponsor may not veto other staff members.
Results Responsibility of PI not Institution
The University does not endorse research results or sponsors.
Financial Relationship with Sponsor
The University places responsibility for addressing financial conflicts by investigators with the Schools. If an investigator has significant equity in prospective sponsor, the Corporation is to be notified and provided details.
Protection of Students
Directing students into research from which the mentor may realize a financial gain requires review and approval (possible oversight) by the appropriate School committee. Special review is recommended if students are working on industry funded projects. Departments and faculty are expected to pay special attention to students' needs in order to ensure their intellectual development.
Authorship
There is no University policy regarding authorship. Each author is expected to make a significant intellectual contribution and the lead author to ensure authenticity of data.
Animals
Specific policies and procedures exist within each school in keeping with federal guidelines. Projects with animal work may not begin without the appropriate committee and departmental approvals.
Human Subjects
Each IRB has established its own policies and procedures in keeping with federal guidelines. Projects with human subject protocols may not begin without the appropriate committee and departmental approvals and completion of training by key personnel.
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are managed by the University's Office for Environmental Health and Safety. Each investigator is responsible for obtaining the licenses and/or EHS approvals necessary for his/her research.
Intellectual Property Rights Granted to Sponsors
The University retains ownership of inventions made by Harvard faculty, but is not adverse to granting option and/or licensing rights to the sponsor. Such matters are dealt with on a case-by-case basis with guidance and oversight provided by the Office for Technology and Trademark Licensing (OTTL), or Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) before sponsored research agreements are executed.
For general information on inventions:
Office for Technology and Trademark Licensing (OTTL - All of University except HMS/HSDM)
Research Materials
The University generally requires that all Materials Transfer Agreements (MTA) include language allowing for the replication of research results.
For additional information on MTAs:
Office for Technology and Trademark Licensing (OTTL - University Area)
Research Misconduct
Responsibility for establishing and implementing research misconduct policies and procedures rests with the Schools.
Reports are filed an annual basis with the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Office of Research Integrity by HMS and SPH individually and OSP/Awards Management for the University Area schools.
