Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO)

Technology Transfer is the sharing of knowledge and facilities among different entities such as Federal laboratories, industry, universities, Federal, state and local governments and third party intermediaries. Federal technology transfer programs aim to make federally generated scientific and technological development accessible to private industry and state and local government. These recipients are encouraged to develop the technology further into new products, processes. Materials or services that will improve the quality of life and enhance industrial competitiveness. The instruments for this transfer of technology are through transactional agreements, such as material transfer agreements, confidential disclosure agreements, licenses and corporative research and development agreements.

1. Confidential Disclosure Agreement for Visitors to Frederick National Lab – this CDA is used when a visitor to Frederick National Lab will be involved in discussions or attend meetings where unpublished scientific data or ideas will be discussed by Frederick National Lab personnel. This CDA must be signed by the visitor on the day of their visit and an original forwarded to the Intellectual Property Administrator, TJ-02.
2. Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) – generally used when material transferred into or out a lab for research purposes. NIH encourages the use of the Simple Letter Agreement. Payment of fees associated with the transfer of materials (not purchase) into Frederick National Lab may be requested using the MTA Direct Payment Form found at http://ncifrederick.cancer.gov/campus/als/downloads/MTA_FORM.pdf.
3. Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDAs) – used when discussions will involve the disclosure of unpublished and confidential or proprietary information. These agreements maybe one sided or two sided.
4. Cooperative Research and Developed Agreements (CRADAs) - used for formal scientific collaborations usually with for-profit entities. A CRADA must involve collaboration between the two parties and may include funds being provided to the Frederick National Lab by the CRADA partner. All CRADAs are reviewed by the NIH CRADA Subcommittee for approval.

Intellectual Property can be defined as “Creations of the mind” - creative works or ideas embodied in a form that can be shared or can enable others to recreate, emulate, or manufacture them. There are four ways to protect intellectual property - patents, trademarks, copyrights or trade secrets.

Under the terms of the Operations and Technical Support (OTS) contract between NCI and SAIC-Frederick, Inc. (SAIC-Frederick), all intellectual property developed by SAIC -Frederick employees is assigned to the Federal Government (N1-CO-12400.B.2(x) and FAR 52.227-13-(deviated)).

In practice, this means that all intellectual property developed by SAIC-Frederick employees will be owned by the Federal Government.

Inventions and patents - any way of doing or making things, machine, manufacture, design, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, or any variety of plant, which is or may be patentable. All new inventions made at the Frederick National Lab must be reported to the Federal Government. This reporting is in the form of an Employee Invention Report (EIR). The EIR must be complete and signed and witnessed. The SAIC-Frederick cover sheet must also be completed before submitting it along with the EIR to NCI TTB and SAIC-Frederick IP Administrator. NCI will make the final decision on which inventions to seek patent protection for.

Helpful NIH-NCI Links for Inventions, Partnering and Intellectual Property
NCI Technology Transfer Branch
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
NIH Technology Transfer Training

Other links:
NCI CCR Office of Science and Technology Partnerships
NCI Office of Technology and Industrial Relations

Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) - Under Construction. If you would like to request that information be added to the FAQ, please submit your suggestion to the Intellectual Property Administrator using the contact information below.

For more information contact:
Intellectual Property Administrator (Contractor)
SAIC-Frederick, Inc.
National Cancer Institute at Frederick
PO Box B
1050 Boyles Street
Frederick, MD 21702-1201
Tele: 301-846-6308
Fax: 301-228-4038
Email: lynchm2@mail.nih.gov