Which situation is an example of an institutional conflict of interest?

An institutional conflict of interest arises when an organization has financial or other interests that might compromise the integrity of its research or the welfare of its research subjects. In this case, when an industry sponsor provides funding for the construction of a new research laboratory, it can create an obligation or bias that may influence the research agenda, priorities, or the results obtained within that laboratory.

Such a situation raises concerns about whether the organization might favor the sponsor's interests over the scientific integrity or ethical considerations of research involving human subjects. This could affect the impartiality of research outcomes or lead to decisions that prioritize the sponsor's needs rather than the welfare of participants or the quality of the research being conducted.

By contrast, the other options do not present clear institutional conflicts of interest. For instance, a president serving on a board of a non-profit not sponsoring research would not inherently cause a conflict related to the organization's research activities. Scholarships given to post-doctoral researchers may support academic growth without compromising research integrity, and having a dean serve as vice-chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) could actually support oversight rather than conflict.