Department of Veterans Affairs Technology Transfer Program John J. Kaplan, PhD, JD Director, Technology Transfer Program
Technology Transfer The commercialization of inventions and discoveries made by Government and academic researchers Most often it involves licensing a patent to a company which will develop the invention into a product that benefits the public Could involve a collaboration with the inventor(s) through a license or a Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) 4/1/2018 2
Technology Transfer The commercialization of inventions and discoveries made by Government and academic researchers Most often it involves licensing a patent to a company which will develop the invention into a product that benefits the public Could involve a collaboration with the inventor(s) through a license or a Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) 4/1/2018 3
At the VA The mission of the VA Technology Transfer Program (TTP) is to facilitate the commercialization of VA inventions to benefit Veterans and the American public Manage Inventions of VA employees Review Agreements Consultations Collaborate with partners Bringing Research Advancements for Veterans to Everyone (BRAVE) 4/1/2018 4
TTP Org 1 - Director, Dr. John Kaplan PhD, JD, MBA, PE 5 - Technology Transfer Specialists (PhD, JD, MBA, MPP) 4 - Staff Assistants (JD, MBA) Support from Patent Law Firms Support from Business Consultant 4/1/2018 5
Technology Transfer Specialists Email Box: VA Technology Transfer Invention Disclosures Mr. Ryan Davis vattid@va.gov 202.632-7554 POC: John Kaplan, PhD, JD, MBA Lee Sylvers, PhD Director, Technology Transfer Program Technology Transfer Specialist john.kaplan@va.gov lee.sylvers@va.gov 202.632.7271 813.417.6327 Benjamin Henry Chris Drabik, JD Technology Transfer Specialist Technology Transfer Specialist benjamin.henry@va.gov christopher.drabik@va.gov 202.443.5736 202.443.5688 Kalpana Reddy, JD Kerry Leonard, JD Technology Transfer Specialist Technology Transfer Specialist Kkalpana.reddy3@va.gov kerry.leonard@va.gov 202.443.5778 202.443-5779 4/1/2018 6
VA Academic Affiliates Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Utah University Alabama Birmingham Medical College of Georgia University of Illinois, Chicago Georgia State University University of Florida Duke University University of Notre Dame Emory University, Atlanta East Tennessee State University University of South Carolina University of Pittsburgh University of Tennessee University of Arkansas Loma Linda University Wayne State University University of Louisville Saint Louis University University of Minnesota University of South Florida Iowa State University Texas A&M University System University of Iowa University of Cincinnati Oregon Health & Science University Arizona State University NY State University of New York (Buffalo) Louisiana State University Yale University Tulane University Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation The University of Texas Medical System University Missouri Wisconsin, Medical College University of Colorado Washington University in St Louis Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) University of Nebraska Medical Center Vanderbilt University University of New Mexico University of Maryland Louisiana Tech University Loyola University Chicago University of Oklahoma New York University Virginia Commonwealth University Boston University Alaska NY State University of New York System University of Pennsylvania University of Nevada University of Mississippi Brown University University of Arizona Cleveland Clinic Foundation Wright State University Hawaii 4/1/2018 7
Disclosure 38 CFR 1.656 VA Certification Form 1 per each VA affiliated inventor Full-Time Part-Time Without Compensation Inter-government Personnel Act 4/1/2018 8
Determination of Rights Assessment of Government Rights Assert Government ownership of the invention Leave ownership of the invention with the inventor Leave ownership of the invention with the inventor subject to the VA retaining a non-exclusive, Govt. use license VA Asserts Rights Managed by VA; or Obligations through Agreements if jointly owned What happens next? Machelle Pardue Atlanta VAMC 4/1/2018 9
Assessment Brief Technical Description Brief Market Analysis Competitive Position Barriers to Entry Recommendations 4/1/2018 10
Patent Protection Provisional Patent Application VA contracted patent firm Collaborative process between attorney and inventor(s) Managed by Technology Transfer Specialist (TTS) Active marketing during first year informs decision on conversion to a utility patent application Utility Patent Application In the absence of a license or strong licensing prospect, only U.S. patent is sought 4/1/2018 11
Marketing Passive Posted to Web site Marketing Briefs Active Marketing Media Outlets Inventor Suggestions 4/1/2018 12
Licensing To Further Commercialize Application Process is Codified (37 CFR 404) Commercial Development Plan Negotiate an exclusive, partially exclusive, or nonexclusive license agreement Fees Royalties Reimbursement of Costs No Inventor Involvement During Financial Negotiations 4/1/2018 13
Royalty Distribution First $2,000 to each inventor, then: 50% to inventor(s) 50% to VAMC where invention was made NOTE: Each inventor can receive up to $150,000 per year in royalty payments 4/1/2018 14
Results/Accomplishments Outreach/Communication Effort and Revamping Invention Disclosure (ID) Processing has resulted in a large increase in IDs 4/1/2018 15
Results/Accomplishments Striving to protect more VA research via patenting 4/1/2018 16
Business process reengineering successes Royalty dollars earned Number of submitted IDs Number of Site Visits Number of Technology Transfer Specialists 4/1/2018 17
Business process reengineering Time to disperse royalties Invention Disclosure Backlog Days to process a Determination of Rights Number of incomplete records 4/1/2018 18
Site Visits Performed VA TTP considers outreach to its customers as a core value. Site Visits in 2015: 0 Site Visits in 2016: 10 Site Visits in 2017: 32 with up to seven additional sites pending A site visit generally includes: the medical center research office, the NPC office and the academic affiliates technology transfer office. When scheduling permits, the Medical Center leadership is also invited. This is the forum where issues can be addressed, training occurs and partnerships are solidified. 4/1/2018 19
TTP Training Module with EES Rolled out by Employee Education Service onto TMS on May 20, 2017 Loaded onto https://www.research.va.gov/programs/tech_transfer/default.cfm on May 23, 2017 Public relations included posters at VHA and Cemetery locations nationwide, partnerships with VHA Public Affairs Officers nationwide and notifications on both Hey VA! Have you heard (7/5/2017) and The Weekly Educator (7/3/2017) June 2017 Course Completions-44 July 2017 Course Completions- 53 4/1/2018 20
Helpful Links Intranet: http://vaww.research.va.gov/programs/tech_transfer/ Internet: http://www.research.va.gov/programs/tech_transfer/ VHA Directive 1200.18 on internet site elearning Course: Basics of VA Technology Transfer VA s Talent Management System (TMS) Course Number 33534 Internet site under WHAT S NEW 4/1/2018 21
AAMC Assist with partnership between VA TTP and Academic Affiliates Advocate for cooperation/collaboration Support the disclosures and certification to VA TTP Help with changing from Cooperative Technology Administration Agreements (CTAAs) to Invention Management Agreements (IMAs) 4/1/2018 22
Questions & Answers Thank you! 4/1/2018 23