Working with OTT
You have a novel idea. We are the bridge to help you bring it to the world – without having to leave campus.
As Emory University’s foremost resource for commercialization, we manage innovations to maximize their benefit to the University and humanity. We do this through dedicated collaboration with our faculty, identifying promising inventions, and guiding you through every step of commercialization.
Our seasoned licensing team members will work with you to develop, protect, and market your idea into a profitable commercial product that benefits humankind.
Technology transfer requires partnership, and each party has essential roles to play in order to achieve successful commercialization. Here’s an overview.
What are Emory OTT's responsibilities? We evaluate each technology disclosed to our office and identify those most promising for commercialization. Then, we seek intellectual property (IP) protection for those inventions that can benefit the public. We must be selective about inventions given that OTT accepts the investment risks associated with IP protection and prosecution. Additionally, our team works to ensure all legal and commercial documentation in the process is appropriate.
What are the inventor's responsibilities? Each case is unique, as are inventors, and your interaction with our office may depend on various factors. The first step is to contact us to discuss your invention idea. It’s important to stay in touch with OTT licensing associates to ensure we are informed of potential publications, interactions with industry representatives, and communications with potential commercial partners or outside consulting commitments you might have. It is also your responsibility not to share the details of your invention with anyone outside Emory, as doing so may jeopardize patentability.
How long does commercialization take? Developing technologies from discovery stage through commercial success can take months – but it usually takes years. The timeline depends on important factors such as readiness of the technology for the market, competition in marketplace, and investment interest from industry. For example, U.S. patent approval typically takes 18-24 months, and the average time from disclosure to licensing is 5.5 years. The sooner we receive your invention disclosure information, the more prepared we will be to advise you on a commercialization strategy and possible timetable.
Where do I send this?
Incoming Material Transfer Agreements: Skip the paper forms and use the online form found on Emory contractConnect. The system will collect all of the pertinent information. Form name: Incoming Material Transfer (MTA). The system requires a valid Emory netid. Send correspondence to ott-mta@emory.edu.
Outgoing UBMTA Material Transfer Agreements: Skip the paper forms and use the online form found on Emory contractConnect. The system will collect all of the pertinent information. Form name: Outgoing Material Transfer (MTA). The system requires a valid Emory netid. Send correspondence to ott-mta@emory.edu.
Bi-lateral (reciprocal) Material Transfer Agreements: Skip the paper forms and use the online form found on Emory contractConnect. The system will collect all of the pertinent information. Form name: Bi-lateral (reciprocal) Material/Data Transfer. The system requires a valid Emory netid. Send correspondence to ott-mta@emory.edu.
Clinical Material Transfer Agreements: Agreements for the transfer of any drugs devices, etc. to be used in/on/with human subjects: Send to osp-contracts@listserv.cc.emory.edu.
Incoming Data Transfer/Use Agreements: Skip the paper forms and use the online form found on Emory contractConnect. The system will collect all of the pertinent information. Form name: Incoming Data Use (DUA/DTA). The system requires a valid Emory netid. Send correspondence to ott-mta@emory.edu.
Outgoing Data Transfer/Use Agreements: Skip the paper forms and use the online form found on Emory contractConnect. The system will collect all of the pertinent information. The system requires a valid Emory netid. Send correspondence to ott-mta@emory.edu.
| Outgoing DUA Type | Process | Responsible Office |
|---|---|---|
| Sending Emory data out to a non-profit domestic entity that is consistent with the low risk outgoing data use criteria. | Emory PI obtains IRB determination, drafts on appropriate template per the Low-Risk Process detailed on this webpage, completes a form in Emory OTT contractConnect. Form name: Low Risk Outgoing DUA Attestation Form | Emory OTT |
| Sending Emory data out to an NIH repository per NIH grant required terms. | Emory PI prepares the necessary documentation per instructions from Emory IRB data sharing website under Five Things for Institutional Certification and sends them to irb@emory.edu. | Emory IRB |
| Aggregated data | These do not require a DUA although an Emory University Investigator may wish to protect such data by means of another type of agreement such as a Confidentiality Agreement or Collaboration Agreement. | Emory PI |
| All other outgoing data transfers. | Emory PI completes a questionnaire found in Emory OTT contractConnect. Form name: Outgoing Data Use (DUA/DTA) | Emory OTT |
Bi-lateral (reciprocal) Data Transfer/Use Agreements: Skip the paper forms and use the online form found on Emory contractConnect. The system will collect all of the pertinent information. Form name: Bi-lateral (reciprocal) Material/Data Transfer. The system requires a valid Emory netid. Send correspondence to ott-mta@emory.edu.
Data Transfer Agreements Involving Human Subjects: that are part of an Emory clinical trial agreement, sponsored research agreement, or contract specifically governing human subject interaction/intervention by the Emory investigator where the prime funding agreement is currently under negotiation, send to osp-contracts@listserv.cc.emory.edu.
Non-disclosure agreements (CAs, CDAs, RDAs, NDAs): With an industry party pertaining to non-clinical research send to ott-mta@emory.edu. With an industry party pertaining to clinical research send to osp-contracts@listserv.cc.emory.edu. With a non-industry party pertaining to non-clinical or clinical research send to osp-contracts@listserv.cc.emory.edu. Received in relation to consulting agreements, please use the eCOI system.
Industry contract (e.g., clinical trial, research, amendments, research services, incoming subcontracts): with funding or changing funding: Please work with your RAS unit to route through the EPEX system which can be found here Compass Login. If there is not funding or changes in funding send to osp-contracts@listserv.cc.emory.edu.