Bayh-Dole Bulletin: Edition 10

Welcome to the Bayh-Dole Bulletin, a monthly newsletter from the Bayh-Dole Coalition. The Bayh-Dole Coalition is a diverse group of innovation-oriented organizations and individuals committed to celebrating and protecting the Bayh-Dole Act, as well as informing policymakers and the public of its many benefits.

About the Bayh-Dole Coalition

A Word From Our Executive Director

In the midst of one of the most turbulent times in recent history, the Bayh-Dole Coalition continues to move forward. We are well into the midst of contacting the key Congressional policymakers involved in our issues, and I am happy to report that we’ve had very constructive calls on both sides of the aisle (and not many can say that these days). We are stressing the critical contribution the Bayh-Dole system makes to our economy and national security at no additional cost to the American taxpayer. We are also emphasizing the need for effective oversight of the law in Congress and the Administration to halt attacks like the NIH intramural licensing guidelines, NSF’s academic licensing guidelines for industry partnerships, and repeated attacks on the law at the Department of Energy. While these are not as wide-ranging as the march-in guidelines (which we are urging the Trump Administration to repeal), these piecemeal actions undermine the key goal of the Bayh-Dole Act — establishing a uniform policy across all agencies. That is a theme we will continue to emphasize.

We are also looking forward to seeing many of you at the AUTM annual meeting. I moderate a panel on Monday, March 3, at 3:45 PM ET with Jon Soderstrom, Kathy Ku, and Steven Kousouris, where we will discuss the partnership between Bayh-Dole and AUTM and our current challenges. The Coalition is hosting a luncheon for our members on Wednesday, March 5, at noon in Chesapeake K/L, and will also be filming statements that we can use on social media to help spread the word.

We have a busy year ahead of us, but we’ve come a long way. Because of our past efforts, we are no longer always on the defensive, and our message is resonating. That’s saying quite a lot in times like these!

February Coalition Highlights

• Infographic: Impact of the Bayh-Dole Act and Academic Technology Transfer (2/26)
• Article: Washington Examiner, “MAHA’s misguided war on pharma” (2/21)
• Article: IPWatchdog, “The Department of Energy’s Technology Giveaway” (2/19)
• Op-ed: Laura Peter, RealClearHealth, “Let’s Keep Innovation a Top American Priority” (2/13)
• Public Comments: “Bayh-Dole Coalition Comments on NSF Proposed Intellectual Property Options” (2/11)
• Article: IAM, “Life sciences IP advocates call for National Institutes of Health’s march-in rights policy recall” (2/4)
• Article: IPWatchdog, “IP Questions in Lutnick Hearing Focus on Risks from China, Backlog” (2/2)
• Article: InsideHealthPolicy, “Kennedy Rejects Use Of March-In Rights To Lower Drug Prices” (1/31)
• Article: STAT, “RFK Jr. says U.S. won’t threaten pharmaceutical patents to push for lower drug prices” (1/31)

Upcoming Events & Coalition Priorities

• On Monday, March 3, at 3:45 to 5:00 PM ET, Bayh-Dole Coalition Executive Director Joseph Allen will moderate a panel at the 2025 AUTM Annual Meeting on the lasting partnership between AUTM and the Bayh-Dole Act. Taking place at National Harbor 10, the panel will feature longtime tech transfer experts Katharine Ku, Jon Soderstrom, and Steve Kousouris.
• On Wednesday, March 5, at 12:00 PM ET, the Bayh-Dole Coalition will hold a members-only luncheon at the 2025 AUTM Annual Meeting. The luncheon will take place within the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, where the conference is taking place.

Member Corner

• The University of Texas at Austin: The Discovery to Impact team at The University of Texas at Austin brings research discoveries to the marketplace to impact the world. Working with world-class inventors, investors, creators and entrepreneurs, they launch startups and collaborate with established businesses to accelerate new products, services, solutions and cures.
• Jodie Richardson: With over a decade of experience in tech transfer, Jodie recently joined TechPipeline as Director of Customer Success, where she leads training and webinar initiatives, manages client relations, contributes to monthly publications, and facilitates a new monthly roundtable program.

• From March 2-4, IPWatchdog will host its Fifth Annual IPWatchdog LIVE Conference at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, VA. With top-notch speakers and attendees, the program will cover new and timely topics that are both relevant and interesting to all who attend — and create a center of gravity to attract the IP community.
• On Wednesday, March 12, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM ET, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center will host its Global IP Summit. This event brings together diverse and compelling voices to discuss the pressing intellectual property (IP) issues of the moment, and how business and government can work together to solve them.

Member Spotlight

Our February member spotlight shines on the University of Pennsylvania and its technology transfer office, the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI). Celebrating a decade of converting research breakthroughs into practical applications, PCI has facilitated the launch of over 300 startups and executed 7,000+ commercialization agreements. Their efforts have brought numerous inventions to the public eye, as showcased in the PCI Year in Review. Penn’s trailblazing scientists have spearheaded pivotal discoveries benefiting global communities, such as fundamental advances in cell, gene, and nucleic acid therapies. Moving ahead, Penn and PCI remain dedicated to fostering “impact and innovation” amidst the evolving landscape of future technologies.

“As we celebrate ten years of tech transfer at the Penn Center for Innovation, it is important to acknowledge the pivotal role the Bayh-Dole Act has played in transforming our groundbreaking academic research into real-world solutions. New products, services, and companies built on the University’s intellectual property are driving progress in key sectors, including healthcare, AI, robotics, and more. Strong IP rights empower our brilliant researchers to bridge the gap between discovery and impact, allowing their ideas to change lives and shape the future. We look forward to another decade of successful tech transfer and are proud to partner with the Bayh-Dole Coalition in upholding the law that makes it possible.” — Benjamin Dibling, Ph.D., Managing Director, Penn Center for Innovation