Bylaws on Conflict of Interest (COI) in Medical Research
Conflict of Interest (COI) Committee,
Japan Neurosurgical Society (JNS)
Article 1 Purpose
The purpose of these Bylaws is to provide specific procedures for managing theGuidelines for Conflict of Interest (COI) in Medical Research for the Japan
Neurosurgical Society (JNS) to require the intended persons to comply with Guidelines.
Article 2 Self-Reporting of COI
The following persons possibly assuming COI status shall have the obligation to clarify
whether they are actually in COI status. If the COI status level during the previous year
(from January to December) exceeds the criteria on the amount specified in Article 3,
said persons shall register online Self-reported COI Disclosure Statement Forms
through the website for JNS members not later than the end of March in the referenced
year:(1) JNS directors, auditors, and delegates(2) Individuals making presentations at scientific annual meetings and scientific branchmeetings held by the JNS(3) Individuals presenting articles in the JNS journal of Neurologia medico-chirurgica
Article 3 Criteria Requiring Submission of Self-reported COI DisclosureStatement Forms
Criteria specifying the interests for which self-reports are required shall be prescribed as
detailed below. The COI status that said persons are obligated to disclose shall be
confined to that related to any company or profit-oriented organization involved in
descriptions of presentations related to projects or medical research conducted by theJNS:(1) For employment/leadership position/advisory role, considerations paid by a single
company or organization in the amount of 1,000,000 yen or more annually(2) For stock ownership or options, profits from stock transactions obtained from asingle company in the amount of 1,000,000 yen or more annually (total of dividends
and gains on sale), and holding 5% or more of total shares in said single company(3) Patent royalties/licensing fees in the amount of 1,000,000 yen or more annually percase(4) Honoraria (e.g., a lecture fees) in the total amount of 1,000,000 yen or moreannually paid by a single company or profit-oriented organization for time andconsumed labor of researchers for attending or making presentations in said
meetings(5) Fees for promotional materials (e.g. manuscript fee) in the total amount of 500,000
yen or more annually(6) Research funding in the total amount of 2,000,000 yen or more annually, and1

scholarship donations (incentive donations) paid by a single company orprofit-oriented organization to one representative researcher in the total amount of
2,000,000 yen or more annually
Article 4 Presentations at Scientific Annual Meetings and Scientific Branch
Meetings Held by the JNS
1. In applying for a subject: The principal presenter of a presentation at scientific annual
meetings, scientific branch meetings, educational lectures, or open lectures held by
the JNS shall clarify whether the principal presenter is in COI status or not.
Specifically, the principal presenter shall be required to have completed online
registration as provided in Article 2 at the time of applying for a subject.
2. In making a presentation: In the presentation, the COI status of the principal presenter
shall be disclosed at the end of the slide(s) presented or poster(s) based on Form 1.
Article 5 Presentations in the JNS Journal
1. At contribution: The author of a presentation in the JNS journal of Neurologia
medico-chirurgica shall clarify whether said author is in COI status or not based onForm 2 prescribed in Contribution Rules. Specifically, said author shall be required tohave completed online registration as provided in Article 2 at the time ofcontribution.
2. On publication: Information on Form 2 shall be summarized as a Conflict of Interest
Statement and printed at the end of the relevant article. In the absence of the COI
status specified, the remark “Authors indicated no potential conflict of interest.” shallbe printed at the end of the relevant article.
Article 6 COI Committee
The COI Committee shall be a permanent body consisting of 8–10 members who areappointed by the JNS director, and the term of office shall be 2 years.
Article 7 Officials
1. The officials defined in these Bylaws shall refer to JNS directors, auditors, anddelegates.
2. Specifically, officials of the JNS shall be required to have completed online
registration as provided in Article 2 at the time of first assuming the post and after
assumption, once a year. In addition, if another COI status occurs regarding theofficial while in the post, said official shall be obligated to report to this effect using
Form 3 within 6 weeks.
Article 8 Actions Against Violators
1. The COI Committee shall be authorized to review any act violating provisions of theGuidelines for COI in Medical Research and shall report the results of the review tothe Board of Directors (BOD). If the act is deemed to be in material noncompliance,2the BOD may take the action specified below for a certain period, depending on thedegree of noncompliance:(1) Prohibition of presentation at any and all meetings held by the JNS(2) Prohibition of publication of articles in any publication issued by the JNS(3) Prohibition of assumption of posts of official or chairs of scientific annualmeetings or scientific branch meetings of the JNS(4) Prohibition of attendance at the BOD and committees of the JNS(5) Dismissal from employment (as a delegate) or prohibition of being an employee(as a delegate)(6) Dismissal from membership or prohibition of being a member of the JNS
2. The individual subject to the actions mentioned in the preceding paragraph may makean objection to the JNS. If the JNS receives an objection, the statement shall besubmitted to the Provisional Review Board.
3. The Provisional Review Board shall consist of three to five members appointed bythe director among nonmembers of the COI Committee for each issue. TheProvisional Review Board shall consider whether the action taken under paragraph 1
was appropriate or not and notify the individual subject to the action of the rereview
result after consultation in the BOD. On such notification to the individual subject tothe action, the duty of the Provisional Review Board for the relevant issue shallterminate.
Article 9 Treatment of COI Self-Report Form Registered Online
1. The Self-reported COI Disclosure Statement Form and disclosed information
submitted online to the JNS based on these Bylaws shall be retained and strictly
managed as private information in the JNS Office under the director as manager.
2. COI information shall be made available to the BOD and the COI Committee at all
times so that they may fulfill requirements specified in the Guidelines. Theserequirements shall include disclosure of relevant COI information within the JNS or
opening to society, to the necessary extent, with approval by the BOD and after
discussion in the COI Committee if questions or social/legal problems occur withrespect to the COI status of the relevant person making the report.
3. If any external subcommittee asks for disclosure of COI information, such disclosure
shall be allowable after a review by the COI Committee to the extent deemednecessary.
4. The retention period of the Self-reported COI Disclosure Statement Form anddisclosed information submitted online to the JNS shall be 3 years from registration;
thereafter, records shall be destroyed under the supervision of the director, provided
that if questions or social/legal problems occur with respect to the relevant person
making the report during the retention period, such destruction may be reserved byresolution of the BOD.
Article 10 Date of Enforcement and Revision Procedures
The COI Committee of the JNS may, as a rule, review Guidelines biennially and revise
these Bylaws by a resolution of the BOD.

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Supplementary Provisions
1. These Bylaws go into force on and after January 1, 2012.

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