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Technology Transfer “101”
The Process
The first step in participating in the technology transfer
program at MCG is to document your discovery and the fact that you feel that you
have an invention by submitting an Invention Disclosure form to our
office (“OTTED”).
The forms are available online (see the “Forms” section on this
website). You also can obtain a hard copy
upon request (phone 706/721-9822, or fax 706/721-2917, or mail
to us at CA-2105).
Please pay careful attention to all of the items in the form.
Such information is critical to giving you the best service and the
highest quality review in the shortest period of time.
This office will review the information and will schedule a meeting with the
inventor(s). An abstract or non-confidential, detailed summary will be prepared
with the inventor’s assistance if it is not already available in the
Disclosure document.
The Office of Technology Transfer and Economic development has a three pronged
approach to the evaluation and commercialization of intellectual property.
Jennifer Valadi, JD will review the prior patent art and determine if there is a solid
chance of securing a patent if we should file an application.
With over six million patents on file in the U.S. Patent & Trademark
Office (“PTO”), there is a chance that someone else has had a similar
inventive idea. The only way to be
certain is to conduct a review, and that is one of the critical services that we
provide.
Abhijit Afzalpurkar, Ph.D., MBA will evaluate the quality of the science behind the invention (are the experiments logical, well
designed, controlled, etc.). He will review the scientific literature for prior publications relating to the invention and analyze potential market for the invention. We do this through our databases online and available in hard copy,
and/or through conversations with industry representatives. The reports will be shared with the inventor(s) who will be asked for comments.
The white paper assessments of science, patentability and marketability,
are given to Charles Nawrot, Ph.D the Director of Technology Transfer.
Based on his evaluation of the three white papers, he makes a recommendation to the IP Committee. They
will consider this information, and offer their own recommendation to the OTTED.
Note that there is not an actual deadline or scheduled meetings.
We will accept and process Invention Disclosures as they are received.
In this way, we can be more responsive to your own time demands, and you
do not have to lose precious time as we attempt to assemble a quorum or find a
suitable meeting time. The IP Committee
comments come back to the OTTED from the members via mail, phone, fax and Email
in this new expedited review system.
The input of legal counsel and the MCG Research Institute (to which IP is
assigned, and which manages income derived from IP) also is sought.
These data are finally submitted to the Vice President for Research who
makes the final decision on behalf of the President on the disposition of the
Disclosure.
The system looks like this:
Technology
Transfer at Medical College of Georgia
While it may look complex, it is very workable provided
that all the necessary information is provided. With
a comprehensive Invention Disclosure in hand, the OTTED should be able to
complete its activity within 10 working days, and the IP Committee can make its
recommendation within another 10 working days.
If MCG relinquishes rights to the inventors, they may elect to file for a patent
on their own behalf and at their own expense.
It MCG decides to pursue patent protection, we will assign a law firm to the
case so that their capabilities match the nature of the invention.
You then would be contacted by their attorney for more detail, and they
will require your assistance as the application is prepared and processed
through the PTO. Thus, the Disclosure is
just the first step in securing a patent. There
will be multiple opportunities for your very valuable input and technical
expertise as the paperwork moves through the system.
While this is ongoing, the OTTED will develop a list of commercial firms likely
to have an interest in acquiring rights to the invention.
It would then be marketed, and if serious interest is expressed by a firm
capable of commercializing the invention, a license (or option) would be
negotiated by the OTTED.
Once the deal is consummated, and income is realized, you as the inventor would
receive a share of that income according to MCG and Regent policies.
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