Researchers are required to disclose any external interests/relationships with respect to research activity. Anyone is considered an ‘Investigator’ (an individual responsible for research design, conduct, or reporting) on research covered by Northwestern policy and/or named as PI/co-I on protocols submitted to Northwestern’s IRB must complete the COI disclosure before your grant proposal submission.
Here is a link to the Conflict of Interest website: www.northwestern.edu/coi/policy/