Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA)

2300 Montana Avenue, Suite 409, Cincinnati OH 45211
Phone: 513-542-7475
Fax: 513-542-7487

Email: TERA@TERA.org

World Trade Center Independent Peer Review

Conflict of Interest Policy

Background Identification and management of potential conflict of interest (COI) and bias issues are paramount to the success and credibility of any peer consultation program composed of external scientific experts. In preparing this policy, TERA reviewed the COI procedures that several organizations (i.e., government, industry, the media, and academia) use to identify, screen, and choose experts for their peer review panels. TERA has designed this policy on COI and bias to meet the specific needs of the World Trade Center (WTC) Peer Review. Definitions Conflict of Interest As used in this document, "conflict of interest (COI)" for a WTC peer review panel candidate means: Working for an organization sponsoring or contributing to the document to be reviewed at the panel meeting, Having direct personal financial investments benefiting from the outcome of the review, or Authoring or providing significant comments on previous drafts the sponsoring organization’s assessment documents submitted to the WTC panel. Bias As used in this document, "bias" for a WTC peer review panel candidate means a predisposition towards the subject matter to be discussed at the panel meeting that could influence the candidate’s viewpoint. Examples of bias would be situations in which a candidate: Has previously taken a public position on subjects to be discussed by the panel, or Is affiliated with an industry, governmental, public interest, or other group with a partiality regarding subjects to be discussed by the panel. Most scientists with technical expertise in areas relevant to WTC will have existing opinions about the subject matter and therefore may be considered to have some degree of bias. Policy TERA’s policy on COI and bias for WTC peer review panel members is as follows: Candidates will disclose all potential conflict of interest and bias issues to TERA during the selection process. Candidates with COI as defined above will not be eligible for membership. Candidates with biases generally will be eligible for panel membership; however, extreme biases, such as those likely to impair a candidate’s ability to make meaningful scientific contributions, will disqualify a candidate. Procedure TERA will implement the policy on COI and bias as follows: Candidates who meet scientific qualifications and other criteria will be requested to provide written disclosure of potential COI and bias issues to TERA by completing written questionnaires. TERA will treat the questionnaires as private and personal information. TERA will determine whether each candidate meets the WTC peer review panel COI and bias requirements according to the Policy stated above, if necessary TERA will discuss potential COI and bias issues with each candidate individually. All bias issues related to the selected panelists will be disclosed at the panel meeting and noted in the panel meeting report.   World Trade Center Peer Review Panel Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (.pdf file)   If you have questions about TERA’s nomination and selection policy, please contact Joan Strawson at 910-692-7752, or via e-mail at strawson@tera.org.