NIDDK Office of Technology Transfer and Development
Encyclopedia
The Office of Technology Transfer and Development (OTTD) is an office within the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), which is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS). OTTD facilitates research collaborations and the exchange of research materials by use of a Material Transfer Agreement
or other types of technology transfer agreements between NIDDK and the global scientific community by developing research partnerships.
Technology transfer is the process by which basic science research and fundamental discoveries are developed into practical and commercially relevant applications and products. OTTD is committed to transferring its technologies and research resources to external organizations for further research, development and/or commercialization to create biomedical products and services that benefit public health. OTTD's staff members have been drawn from industry as well as other external organizations to provide a remarkable variety of skills to assist potential research partners. OTTD staff evaluate and manage invention portfolios, oversee patent prosecution, negotiate licensing agreements and review cooperative research agreements.
is a process by which technology developed in one organization, in any one particular area and purpose, is applied in another organization, in another area, or for another purpose. Simply put, NIDDK OTTD facilitates the movement of technology from the federal laboratories to industry and to state and local governments in order to maximize results of ongoing Federal research endeavors.
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 established the foundation for technology transfer within the Federal government. This law recognized the need for enhanced information dissemination from the Federal government to private industry. It also required Federal laboratories to take a more active role in cooperation with potential users of Federally-developed technology.
Bayh-Dole Act
of 1980 gives federal contractors, grantees, and cooperative agreement funding recipients the option to retain ownership rights to inventions they create as part of a federally sponsored research project and profit from commercializing them. The act also protects the government’s interests by requiring that federal agencies and their authorized funding recipients retain a license to practice the invention for government purposes. It ultimately granted universities the clear right to pursue patents on government-funded research.
The Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 provides the legal basis for and encourages shared use of Government facilities and resources with the private sector to aid in the commercialization of new products and services. This act established the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
(CRADA) which encourages such research and development and it gave organizations the option to license their product.
(FDA).
Commercialization
is one of the most effective methods of transferring technologies. OTTD assesses technical and marketing development, manufacturing requirements and financial feasibility in order to maximize a product’s or invention’s potential. OTTD evaluates perceived need for the product, size of potential market, expected sales, advantages over competing products, and the cost of promoting the product.
Royalties
are a form of income that is received by the inventor and the Institute as a result of a license granted to a collaborator to develop, manufacture or otherwise use or produce the invention for sale or distribution. The royalty rate, usually a percentage of sales of the invention, is negotiated as part of the license agreement between NIDDK and the licensee.
, nutrition, digestive
disorders, endocrine and metabolic disorders, hematologic diseases, and kidney and urologic diseases, as well as complications from HIV
infection. NIDDK’s biomedical research efforts could be generally characterized as “internal medicine”-oriented as they relate to the medical specialties of endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious disease, and nephrology. NIDDK employs clinicians who conduct and manage clinical research studies on these various diseases. NIDDK employs medicinal chemists, who conduct research to synthesize and evaluate both macro-molecules and small molecules, including agonists and antagonists to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as Thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH), Adenosine, and 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors. In addition, NIDDK employs biologists and process scientists who create a vast array of technologies ranging from cell lines to transgenic and knock-out mouse models.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health...
(NIDDK), of the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH), which is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
(HHS). OTTD facilitates research collaborations and the exchange of research materials by use of a Material Transfer Agreement
Material transfer agreement
A Material Transfer Agreement is a contract that governs the transfer of tangible research materials between two organizations, when the recipient intends to use it for his or her own research purposes. The MTA defines the rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and...
or other types of technology transfer agreements between NIDDK and the global scientific community by developing research partnerships.
Technology transfer is the process by which basic science research and fundamental discoveries are developed into practical and commercially relevant applications and products. OTTD is committed to transferring its technologies and research resources to external organizations for further research, development and/or commercialization to create biomedical products and services that benefit public health. OTTD's staff members have been drawn from industry as well as other external organizations to provide a remarkable variety of skills to assist potential research partners. OTTD staff evaluate and manage invention portfolios, oversee patent prosecution, negotiate licensing agreements and review cooperative research agreements.
Purpose and Background
The function of technology transferTechnology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
is a process by which technology developed in one organization, in any one particular area and purpose, is applied in another organization, in another area, or for another purpose. Simply put, NIDDK OTTD facilitates the movement of technology from the federal laboratories to industry and to state and local governments in order to maximize results of ongoing Federal research endeavors.
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 established the foundation for technology transfer within the Federal government. This law recognized the need for enhanced information dissemination from the Federal government to private industry. It also required Federal laboratories to take a more active role in cooperation with potential users of Federally-developed technology.
Bayh-Dole Act
Bayh-Dole Act
The Bayh–Dole Act or Patent and Trademark Law Amendments Act is United States legislation dealing with intellectual property arising from federal government-funded research. Adopted in 1980, Bayh-Dole is codified in -212, and implemented by 37 C.F.R. 401. Among other things, it gave U.S...
of 1980 gives federal contractors, grantees, and cooperative agreement funding recipients the option to retain ownership rights to inventions they create as part of a federally sponsored research project and profit from commercializing them. The act also protects the government’s interests by requiring that federal agencies and their authorized funding recipients retain a license to practice the invention for government purposes. It ultimately granted universities the clear right to pursue patents on government-funded research.
The Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 provides the legal basis for and encourages shared use of Government facilities and resources with the private sector to aid in the commercialization of new products and services. This act established the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
In the United States, a cooperative research and development agreement is an agreement between a government agency and a private company to work together on research and development.-Description:...
(CRADA) which encourages such research and development and it gave organizations the option to license their product.
Inventions and Patenting
The goal of the NIDDK research is to expand the basic scientific knowledge pertaining to health. Scientists submit manuscripts pertaining to their advances and discoveries to a variety of professional publications. This assures distribution of taxpayer-funded research results. Occasionally the research yields a potential new therapeutic, preventative treatment, or diagnostic product. NIDDK technologies may be patented if this it facilitates or attracts investment by partners for further research and commercial development. A patent is particularly important if development requires approval of the Food and Drug AdministrationFood and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA).
Licensing Technologies
OTTD encourages the development by industry for public use and benefit of inventions from technology resulting from NIDDK and collaborative research. One of OTTD's important functions is to raise visibility of the Institutes inventions by seeking out possible partnerships to further commercial development in order to benefit public health.Commercialization
Commercialization
Commercialization is the process or cycle of introducing a new product or production method into the market. The actual launch of a new product is the final stage of new product development, and the one where the most money will have to be spent for advertising, sales promotion, and other marketing...
is one of the most effective methods of transferring technologies. OTTD assesses technical and marketing development, manufacturing requirements and financial feasibility in order to maximize a product’s or invention’s potential. OTTD evaluates perceived need for the product, size of potential market, expected sales, advantages over competing products, and the cost of promoting the product.
Royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
are a form of income that is received by the inventor and the Institute as a result of a license granted to a collaborator to develop, manufacture or otherwise use or produce the invention for sale or distribution. The royalty rate, usually a percentage of sales of the invention, is negotiated as part of the license agreement between NIDDK and the licensee.
Research and Technologies
NIDDK conducts and supports research on many chronic and costly diseases affecting public health: diabetes, obesityObesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, nutrition, digestive
Digestive
Digestive may refer to:*Digestion, biological process of metabolism*Digestive biscuit, a British semi-sweet biscuit*Digestif, small beverage at the end of a meal...
disorders, endocrine and metabolic disorders, hematologic diseases, and kidney and urologic diseases, as well as complications from HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infection. NIDDK’s biomedical research efforts could be generally characterized as “internal medicine”-oriented as they relate to the medical specialties of endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious disease, and nephrology. NIDDK employs clinicians who conduct and manage clinical research studies on these various diseases. NIDDK employs medicinal chemists, who conduct research to synthesize and evaluate both macro-molecules and small molecules, including agonists and antagonists to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Thyrotrophin-stimulating hormone is a peptide hormone synthesized and secreted by thyrotrope cells in the anterior pituitary gland, which regulates the endocrine function of the thyroid gland.- Physiology :...
(TSH), Adenosine, and 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors. In addition, NIDDK employs biologists and process scientists who create a vast array of technologies ranging from cell lines to transgenic and knock-out mouse models.