FCOI Training

Required Conflict of Interest Training

Investigators working on PHS-funded Awards (or other sponsors that abide by PHS COI regulations) must complete conflict of interest training at time of award and complete a refresher every four (4) years thereafter (or more frequently if required by a sponsor) through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (“CITI”).    Award fund set-up (or proposal submission, if/as applicable based on sponsor requirements) does not occur until CITI COI training is completed by all investigators (typically, named Senior/Key Personnel on a project).

Individuals can self-register at CITI and affiliate themselves with Georgetown.  Upon completion of the registration process, CITI will ask a series of questions.  You may answer “not at this time” to all questions except question 5.  You must check “yes” to the conflict of interest training to receive access to the correct training module.  Questions related to registration can be sent to Kenya Carter, Research Compliance Specialist, Office of Research Oversight, at kenya.carter@georgetown.edu.

 In most cases, an investigator’s COI training certificate will be good for four years, unless the investigator is noncompliant with the Georgetown FCOI policy or conflict management plan, or Georgetown changes its policy.

Who is Required to Complete COI Training?

If you are engaged PHS research (or engaged in research by other sponsors that abide by PHS COI regulations) and meet the definition of an investigator (typically, named Senior/Key Personnel), then you must complete the CITI COI training. An investigator is anyone responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of funded or proposed research, regardless of title or position. This includes:

• Project directors
• Principal investigators
• Co-investigators
• Key personnel
• May include research assistants, postdocs, collaborators or consultants.

I Have Already Created an Account in CITI

• Visit the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) website.
• Login with your username and password.
• On your home page, under “Georgetown University Courses” select “Add a course or update learner groups.”
• On the next page, scroll down and select ‘yes’ to Question 5 – Conflict of Interest; then click Submit to enroll.
• Follow the prompts to complete the tutorial and brief quizzes.
• You may print a completion certificate for your own records. The system will provide ORO with a report of your training.
• If you have questions, please contact Kenya Carter, BS at ktc@georgetown.edu or 202-784-5313.

I Need to Set Up an Account in CITI

• Visit the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) website.
• Register and create your own username and password. Please use your Georgetown University email address.
• Select Georgetown University as your institution.
• Select ‘yes’ to Question 5 – Conflict of Interest, then click Submit to enroll.
• Follow the prompts to complete the tutorial and brief quizzes.
• You may print a completion certificate for your own records. The system will provide ORO with a report of your training.
• If you have questions, please contact Kenya Carter, BS at ktc@georgetown.edu  or 202-784-5313.

What Agencies are Part of the Public Health Service (PHS)?

PHS includes the federal agencies and cooperative groups listed below:

Questions or Concerns?

For questions about policies, procedures, or training, please contact:

• Julia Zipper, MPPA, (202) 687-3911, julia.zipper@georgetown.edu
• Nabeel Qureshi, MBBS, MPH, nabeel.qureshi@georgetown.edu
• Lila Sisbarro, BS, Lila.Sisbarro@georgetown.edu
• Kenya Carter, BS, (202) 784-5313, kenya.carter@georgetown.edu