Research Organization Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a research organization business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for non-clinical research organizations and institutes. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability (E&O) | Covers flawed research relied on by sponsors and clients. | Core | |
| D&O (incl. Nonprofit D&O) | Covers board liability for grant mismanagement. | Core | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers whistleblower-retaliation claims. | Core | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers participant data and research data. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers participants at in-person sessions. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers field researchers and lab staff. | Core | |
| Regulatory / FCA Defense | Covers qui tam and OIG investigation costs. | Prevalent | |
| Crime / Fiduciary | Covers grant-fund embezzlement and vendor fraud. | Prevalent | |
| Research Participant Liability | Covers injury in non-clinical physical-task studies. | Situational | |
| Foreign Liability | Covers overseas fieldwork. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by research organizations is False Claims Act defense. D&O and E&O policies commonly exclude return of grant funds, fines, and multiplied damages, and many limit qui tam defense until the government intervenes — yet both cited settlements began as whistleblower suits. Buy explicit FCA defense coverage and pair it with EPL for retaliation claims.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your research organization coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Research Organization Insurance · Research Organization Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a research organization business need?
The core coverages for a research organization business are Professional Liability (E&O), D&O (incl. Nonprofit D&O), Employment Practices Liability, Cyber / Privacy Liability, General Liability, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my research organization coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.