An NIH perspective on the Bayh-Dole Act and invention reporting responsibilities

• Published in: SRA journal Vol. 31; no. 2; p. 21
• Main Authors: Stecklein, Linda, Stone, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago Society of Research Administrators 01.07.1999
• Subjects: Biomedical research; Colleges & universities; Commercialization; Disclosure; Educational Objectives; Federal legislation; Federal regulation; Funding; Government (Administrative Body); Government grants; Grants; Intellectual property; Inventions; Inventors; Licenses; Licensing; Medical research; Narcotics; Nonprofit organizations; Opera; Ownership; Reporting requirements; Research Administration; Research Projects; Research Tools; Responsibilities; Small Businesses; Studies; Technology transfer; User services; United States > US
• ISSN: 1062-8142

Extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health supports biomedical research in an effort to gain new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. This knowledge often manifests itself as intellectual property, i.e., unique findings that result in new products, materials and processes. In this quest, research administrators play an essential role in providing the stewardship needed to: 1. protect and promote the development of intellectual property, and 2. transfer this knowledge or technology into the public domain. Protection afforded intellectual property rights dates back to the US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8. Invention reporting requirements are a consequence of the passage of the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980. Congress enacted this legislation to spur intellectual property development, technology transfer, and the commercialization of government funded research. Attention to this legislation and associated regulations will greatly assist grantee and contractor organizations to administer their intellectual property portfolios and adhere to statutory timelines for the commercialization of an invention.