Marylana Saadeh Helou, Member of the Firm, co-presents “When Innovation Meets Incentive: Conflict of Interest Challenges in AI, Startups, and Academic Entrepreneurship” at the 2026 PRIM&R Annual Conference, which runs from November 16 to 18.

As academic investigators increasingly develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools, launch startups, hold equity in emerging companies, and partner with industry sponsors, traditional conflict of interest frameworks are being tested in new ways. This session explores how financial interests, intellectual property, leadership roles, and entrepreneurial activities can influence study design, recruitment, informed consent, and participant protections. Attendees will examine real-world scenarios and discuss how IRBs, HRPPs, and institutions can evaluate and manage conflicts while supporting innovation.

Learning objectives:

  • Describe emerging conflict of interest challenges associated with AI, academic entrepreneurship, startup ventures, and industry partnerships in human subjects research
  • Analyze how financial interests, intellectual property, leadership roles, and other competing interests may affect study design, participant recruitment, informed consent, and participant protections
  • Apply strategies for identifying, evaluating, and managing conflicts of interest while supporting innovation, maintaining transparency, and protecting the rights and welfare of research attendees

For more information, visit the conference website.

Event Detail

2:00 – 3:15 p.m. MDT

Denver, CO

Jump to Page
Advanced Search ›

Privacy Preference Center

When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.