The NICHD Ethics Branch plans, directs, and implements a comprehensive ethics program in accordance with the requirements established by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and NIH. Although NICHD has complied with federal ethics requirements for many years, the Ethics Branch was established within the Office of Legislation, Public Policy, and Ethics in 2021.
The branch performs the following tasks:
- Provides guidance on the standards of ethical conduct and conflict of interest issues for prospective and current employees and the advisory committees that serve NICHD
- Administers the filing and certification of public and confidential disclosure of employee financial interests
- Manages the filing and approval process for outside activities, conflicts review of sponsored travel, awards from outside organizations, honorary degrees, and widely attended gatherings
- Manages ethics clearance for NIH staff participation on clinical protocols
The Ethics Branch also responds to inquiries related to conflicts of interest, acceptable gifts, and post-employment restrictions and serves as liaison to the NIH Ethics Office and the Ethics Division of the HHS Office of the General Counsel.
To contact the Ethics Branch, email nichdethics@mail.nih.gov.
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