Bayh-Dole Bulletin: Edition 9

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

It’s fair to say the watchword for the new Administration and Congress is “change.” This will be a year of great opportunities and great challenges. That’s why the Bayh-Dole Coalition is hitting the ground running. We wrote President Trump reminding him of the key role his first Administration played in defending Bayh-Dole and the important role it can play in stimulating economic growth while restoring American competitiveness in the face of formidable foreign challenges. We are also visiting the key members of Congress who will be shaping the issues affecting us. And we’re already planning our next Faces of American Innovation event, which will also celebrate Bayh-Dole’s 45th birthday.

There’s a lot going on, and with your help and support, 2025 will be our best year yet. But buckle your seat belts — things will be moving quickly!

January Coalition Highlights

• Letter: Bayh-Dole Coalition Letter to Senate Finance Committee RE: March-In Rights (1/28)
• Article: Breakthrough BRD vaccine could save U.S. cattle industry $1 billion in costs (1/27)
• Issue Brief: Biden’s NIH Licensing Guidelines Imperil New Medicines (1/27)
  • Article: Bayh-Dole Coalition Calls on Trump Admin to Rescind NIH Access Planning Policy (1/28)
  • Press Release: Bayh-Dole Coalition Releases Issue Brief on Harmful NIH Licensing Guidelines (1/27)
• Letter: Bayh-Dole Coalition Letter to President Trump RE: Protecting the Bayh-Dole Act (1/24)
  • Press Release: Bayh-Dole Coalition Urges President Trump to Support the Bayh-Dole Act (1/27)
• Op-ed: Katharine Ku, Inside Higher Ed, “How to Bring Your Research to Market” (1/23)
• Op-ed: Dr. Hong Hua, Arizona Daily Star, “Protect the public policy that enabled my invention to help people see” (1/23)
• Article: Federal Newswire, “Weekend Interview: Joseph Allen Sounds the Alarm on Bayh-Dole Reforms” (1/21)
• Videos: 2025 American Innovator Awardee Testimonials (1/15)
  • Dr. Ashok Gadgil: The Risky, Winding Road of Tech Transfer
  • Dr. Shafiqul Chowdhury: The Innovation Race
  • Dr. Rachel Dorin: Small But Mighty Startups
  • Dr. Hong Hua: The Bayh-Dole Cycle
  • Katharine Ku: The Innovation Legacy of U.S. Universities
• Article: IPWatchdog, “The Biden Administration Rolls the Dice on NIH Patent Licensing” (1/13)
• Article: Livestock Guide, “Revolutionary vaccine could save millions of calves” (12/27)
• Op-ed: Ashok Gadgil, Salon, “My invention brought clean water to millions. Don’t rewrite the law that made it possible” (12/24)

Upcoming Events & Coalition Priorities

• 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. If you can join us, please RSVP here by Friday, February 14.
• Our 2025 American Innovator Award submission form deadline has been extended to Friday, February 14! Learn more about the submission criteria and nominate an outstanding inventor, entrepreneur, researcher, tech transfer professional, industry partner, or venture capitalist here.

Member Corner

• On Tuesday, February 4, from 12-1 PM ET, AUTM will facilitate its virtual watercooler, “The Start of Tech Transfer and AUTM.” This panel discussion will mark the 50th anniversary of technology transfer by reflecting on its origins and the foundational role AUTM has played in its development. Panelists include Bayh-Dole Coalition Executive Director Joe Allen, former Stanford OTL Executive Director Katharine Ku, and other IP experts.
• 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.

Member Spotlight

Our January member spotlight is Eb Bright, President and General Counsel at ExploraMed! Eb is a dedicated defender of intellectual property rights, with over three decades of experience in the patents, startups, and innovation industries. He is a co-founder and advisory committee member of the Alliance for U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs (USIJ) and serves on the United States Patent Public Advisory Committee. Eb is a patent attorney and a patent-holder himself, being listed as an inventor on 30 U.S. patents with others pending. The Bayh-Dole Coalition is grateful to have Eb and ExploraMed as members joining us in advocating for the Bayh-Dole Act and the technology transfer system.

“As someone who has worked at the intersection of innovation, intellectual property, and entrepreneurship, I can confidently say that the Bayh-Dole Act has been a cornerstone of our nation’s success in translating early-stage research into groundbreaking technologies. By allowing universities and research institutions to retain patent rights to their federally-supported inventions, Bayh-Dole has fostered a dynamic environment where entrepreneurs can collaborate with innovators to bring their ideas to fruition. It’s essential we continue to protect and support this system, ensuring that the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs can thrive and contribute to our global leadership.” — Eb Bright, J.D./MBA, President & General Counsel, ExploraMed