### Policies - [ FAQs](#faqs) - [ Resources](#resources) ## Research Enterprise and Related Policies Because we don't all think alike, we've "shelved" our policies under functional categories and sub-categories to help you find quickly the policy you seek.\* When you click on your first policy below, you will be prompted to log in using your BMC email address and password. All BMC policies are also accessible through [***PolicyTech***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/)\* and most of those pertaining to sponsored programs (SPs) are categorized under "Research (39)," accessible via the "Browse" function. If you cannot locate the policy you seek, please [***reach out for assistance***](mailto:kaye.mottola@bmc.org). ### Research Financial Conflict of Interest Following federal regulation, BMC posts its [***research financial conflict of interest (RFCOI) policy***](https://hub.bmc.org/system/files/docs/2025-05/Significant%20Financial%20Conflicts%20of%20Interest%20in%20the%20Conduct%20of%20Research.pdf) publicly. The policy follows 42 CFR 50, Subpart 5, entitled "Promoting Objectivity in Research." ### Pre-award ### Pre-award Considerations Proposal development and submission requires attention to numerous general and financial SP requirements to ensure adequate and compliant budgeting [***Screening for Ineligible/Excluded Personnel***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14622) [***Allowable Costs***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=3305) [***Cost Sharing***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=6867) [***Indirect Cost Rate (F&A)***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/indirect-cost-rate-sponsored-programs-2025) and [***Indirect Cost Standard Operating Procedure***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/sponsored-programs-indirect-costs-sop) [***Financial Conflicts of Interest, Research***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14623) [***Material and Data Use and other Agreements***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/research-and-sponsored-program-contracting-2025) [***Independent Contractor (HR)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9957) [***Procurement of Supplies, Equipment, Services (Supply Chain)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=10676) [***Travel and Expense (HR)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=3253) ### Proposal Submission [***Proposal Submission***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9860) ### Award Preparation [***Pre-award and Pre-contractual Expenditures***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5761) [***Clinicaltrials.gov Requirements***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14619) ### Subawards [**Subawards (when BMC is prime awardee)**](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9861) ### Sponsored Program Awards Finance ### General: Proposal Development Through Closeout General SP finance policies apply to budgeting, other proposal submission requirements, project set-up, and post-award requirements [***Allowable Costs***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=3305) [***Indirect Cost Rate (F&A***)](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/indirect-cost-rate-sponsored-programs-2025) and [***Indirect Cost Standard Operating Procedure***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/sponsored-programs-indirect-costs-sop) [***Cost Sharing***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=6867) [***Equipment Management***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=3269) [***Procurement of Supplies, Equipment, Services***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=10676) [***Travel and Expense***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=3253) [***Financial Conflicts of Interest, Research***](https://hub.bmc.org/system/files/docs/2025-05/Significant%20Financial%20Conflicts%20of%20Interest%20in%20the%20Conduct%20of%20Research.pdf) ### Prior to Award Acceptance [***Pre-award and Pre-contractual Expenditures***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5761) ### Post-award [***Time and Effort Reporting***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9840) [***Cost Transfer***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=11102) [***Overspending***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5760) [***Invoicing***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/sponsored-programs-invoicing-policy-2025) [***Fund Monitoring***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9838) [***Program Income***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9839) [***Petty Cash***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=1210) [***Financial Reporting***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5790) [***Closeout***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/sp-pollcy-closeout) [***Residual Balances and Discretionary Funds***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5764) [***Record Retention***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=4975) ### Clinical Research Billing and Finance [***Coverage Analysis***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=3693) [***Billing and Claims Submission (General)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14603) ### Clinical Research Clinical research SPs, including industry-sponsored clinical trials, are also subject to SP finance policies. Please see the section above ### Systems Requirements [***Participant Compensation (ClinCard)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=4324) [***Required Use of Velos-CT (Clinical Research Management System)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=4619) [***ClinicalTrials.Gov Requirements***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14619) ### Research Contracting, Billing, and Finance [***Coverage Analysis***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=3693) [***Clinical Trial and other Agreements***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/research-and-sponsored-program-contracting-2025) [***Billing and Claims Submission (General)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14603) ### Ethics and Study Participation [***Human Research Protections Program/Institutional Review Board***](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/ohra/hrpp-policies/hrpp-policies-procedures/) [***Ethics in Human Research***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=4976) ### Records Management [***Record Retention***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=4975) ### Agreements [***Research and Sponsored Program Contracting***](https://hub.bmc.org/doc/research-and-sponsored-program-contracting-2025), all types (see subaward agreements for additional considerations) [***Subaward Agreements***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9861) [***Independent Contractor (HR)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9957) [***Contract Approval (Fiscal Management)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=2405) ### Reporting Requirements [***Time and Effort Reporting***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9840) [***Clinicaltrials.gov Reporting***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14619) [***Financial Reporting***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5790) [***FFATA (Federal Funding and Transparency Act) Reporting***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5756) [***Income Generated by a Research/Sponsored Program***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9839) ### Conflicts of Interest [***Significant Financial Conflicts of Interest in the Conduct of Research***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14623) [***Conflict of Commitment***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14608) [***Conflicts of Interest (General)***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14609) [***Institutional Conflicts of Interest in the Conduct of Research***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14613) ### Other [***Animal Research/IACUC Guidance***](https://www.bu.edu/research/ethics-compliance/animal-subjects/iacuc/bu-iacuc-huron-research-suite-reference-guides/) The related policy requires [***BU log-in***](https://shib.bu.edu/idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e5s1) [***Export Controls***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=15888) [***Institutional Biosafety (and Biosecurity)***](https://www.bu.edu/research/ethics-compliance/safety/biological-safety/ibc/policies/) [***Record Retention***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=4975) [***Research Core Facility/Service Center***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=9848) [***Research and Scholarship Misconduct Allegations***](https://bostonmedicalcenter.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=5748) ## FAQs ### Why do many research policy titles refer to “Sponsored Programs” instead of “Research”? Many but not all research policies also apply to non-research sponsor programs (SPs), eg, a clinical or other service program. SPs range widely in type, but they share with research many compliance requirements stipulated by awarding agencies and/or federal or other laws and regulations. In other words, research projects are a subset, albeit the largest subset, of BMC SPs. ### I may have misunderstood policy requirements related to one of my responsibilities. How can I be sure? What can I do about it? If you have any doubt that your activities may not align with BMC policy, first congratulate yourself for catching a potential error. Everyone errs sometimes. Becoming aware of a possible misunderstanding of requirements and seeking to address evidences commitment to compliance Please re-read the Policy Statement of the policy that you may have misapplied. If that doesn’t clear things up, contact the [***SP policy manager***](mailto:kaye.mottola@bmc.org), who will meet with you to identify next steps. Ask for urgent attention if you need to engage in the activity soon. ### What if I don’t fully understand the process specified to adhere to the policy requirements? The Procedure section of each RO policy provides a high-level description of the process. If you need help interpreting it, please contact the [***SP policy manager***](mailto:kaye.mottola@bmc.org)***.*** She will clarify the steps outlined in the section. If, instead, you seek process details that the policy doesn't reference, please go to the relevant Research Enterprise team page(s). The [***Sponsored Programs Administration***](https://www.bmc.org/node/172089) and [***Sponsored Programs Finance***](https://www.bmc.org/node/171631) home pages provide quick links to many process descriptions, and the [***Clinical Trial Office***](https://www.bmc.org/node/171917) home page provides a flowchart, FAQs, and a left-hand menu link for clinical research systems FAQs. If you do not readily find what you need, contact the relevant team for assistance. All RO webpages include a link to contact the team(s). The policies themselves list the responsible ROs team(s) that can identify process details. As policy job aids become available, they will be posted on this page. ### My eyes glaze over whenever I read policy. Isn’t there some alternative way to identify BMC or BMC/BUMC requirements? You are not alone – many people are intimidated by policies and with good reason: sometimes they are not written for ready comprehension. In the last two years, BMC SP policies have been updated for simplicity, use of natural language, brevity, and concision. Please try them out: they may change your mind about policies. If, however, you would like to review the policy with the [***SP policy manager***](mailto:kaye.mottola@bmc.org), please do not hesitate to reach out. If, instead, you would like to discuss any concerns about the policy, you may want to contact the relevant RO team All RO webpages include a link to contact the team(s) and all RO policies list the responsible team(s). Follow these links to [***Sponsored Programs Administration***](https://www.bmc.org/node/172089), [***Sponsored Programs Finance***](https://www.bmc.org/node/171631)***,*** and [***Clinical Trial Office***](https://www.bmc.org/node/171917)*.* ### Resources [#### Research Careers with BMC ](https://bmc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/BMC/) [#### Systems for Research/SPs ](/research-operations/bmc-systems-for-research) [#### SP Policy Library ](/research-operations/policies) [#### Education and Training ](/research-operations/research-education/calendar) [#### Research Enterprise Forms ](/research-operations/forms) [#### Contact the Research Policy Manager ](mailto:kaye.mottola@bmc.org)