Purpose
Dartmouth Health is committed to conducting high-quality, compliant clinical research in partnership with industry sponsors, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and investigators. To ensure consistency, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, and operational efficiency, Dartmouth Health maintains centralized processes for the review, negotiation, budgeting, contracting, and activation of industry-sponsored clinical research.
This page outlines institutional expectations regarding budget development, contract negotiations, and the application of indirect costs (IDC) for industry-sponsored research activities.
Clinical Trials Office (CTO)
The Clinical Trials Office (CTO) serves as the centralized office responsible for the review, development, negotiation, and management of industry-sponsored clinical research budgets and related financial activities.
The CTO collaborates with investigators, study teams, sponsors, CROs, contracting offices, and institutional stakeholders to ensure that research activities are appropriately budgeted, compliant with institutional requirements, and supported by the necessary research infrastructure.
All industry-sponsored clinical research budget development, budget negotiations, and financial review activities are coordinated through the Clinical Trials Office.
Budget and contract negotiations
All budget and contract negotiations for industry-sponsored clinical research must be conducted through the Clinical Trials Office and designated institutional representatives.
Principal Investigators, research staff, departments, and other institutional personnel are not authorized to independently negotiate, approve, or commit Dartmouth Health to financial terms, payment structures, indirect cost rates, or contractual obligations with sponsors or Contract Research Organizations (CROs).
Any pricing, budget commitments, financial arrangements, or contractual terms provided outside of the established Clinical Trials Office review and negotiation process are considered unofficial, non-binding, and subject to institutional review and revision.
Dartmouth Health reserves the right to reject, modify, or renegotiate any financial terms that have not been reviewed and approved through the appropriate institutional processes.
Dartmouth Health institutional IDC rate
Dartmouth Health maintains a standard 35% indirect cost (IDC) rate for industry-sponsored clinical research.
The IDC rate applies to:
- Industry-sponsored clinical trials
- Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs) receiving industry funding or support
- Expanded Access Programs (EAPs)
- Registries
- Observational studies
- Device, drug, biologic, and diagnostic studies
- Other industry-sponsored research activities conducted utilizing Dartmouth Health research infrastructure and resources
The 35% IDC rate is an institutional standard and is applied consistently across industry-sponsored clinical research unless an approved exception has been granted through the Office of Research Operations.
Dartmouth Health has applied a 35% IDC rate to industry-sponsored clinical research since 2024.
Contact information
Questions regarding Dartmouth Health's IDC policy should be directed to:
Clinical Trials Office (CTO): CTO@hitchcock.org