Creighton University

• 12-04-08 Rowen Zetterman, M.D., Named Creighton Medical Dean
• Mid-America Leading Economic Indicator Drops to Record Low
• 11-21-08 Bank Survey Reflects Economic Slump
• Creighton one of seven "Blue Distinction" centers
• Omaha's economy expected to slow
• 11-12-08 Creighton Professor Says Bailout Not the Answer for Auto Makers

Creighton IRM News Archive

• December 2008 Feature: Dr. Robert Recker, director of Creighton’s Osteoporosis Research Center
• Feature: Creighton research may lead to osteoporosis cure

Creighton IRM Features Archive

Creighton IRM helps bring brilliant research discoveries to the marketplace. Our technology transfer services include:

• Evaluating intellectual property, to determine its commercial viability in the marketplace
• Assessing the potential for starting a company
• Locating research funding to help complete a project
• Arranging for the prosecution of patents
• Securing copyright registrations
• Identifying a commercial partner or startup funding and negotiate a future royalty stream
• Licensing technologies so they can be commercialized
• Administering royalties

Policies/Forms/Agreements

Intellectual Property Policy
All faculty, staff, students, contractors and others at Creighton must abide by the university's Intellectual Property Policy (4.2.3).

Disclosure Form
Creighton University's Invention Disclosure Form creates a record of the invention, including a description of the invention, identification of the inventor(s) involved, the sponsors of the work, public disclosures relating to the invention and publications.

Material Transfer Agreement
The university's Material Transfer Agreement governs the distribution of research-related materials originating at Creighton to other academic and non-profit institutions, or to those in the commercial sector who will only use the materials for research purposes. Contact Mary Ann Wendland, IRM Associate Director, at 402-280-3653, to obtain a material transfer agreement.

Confidentiality Agreement
All parties who enter any agreements with Creighton University surrounding intellectual property must sign Creighton University's Confidentiality Agreement. Contact Mary Ann Wendland, IRM Associate Director, at 402-280-3653, to obtain a confidentiality agreement.

Licensing Agreement
The licensing agreement gives businesses certain rights to Creighton technology, so that the technology can be developed for commercialization. The terms of licensing agreements vary significantly depending on the technology, the stage of development, and the market value of the resulting products.

Procedures

Faculty, staff, students, contractors and others at Creighton may discover or develop something new - a laboratory tool, a novel treatment for a disease, or a finding that may have some practical application in the marketplace.

Those interested in protecting their discoveries and transferring them to the marketplace should contact Intellectual Resources Management at Creighton.

The time to meet with us is before you write a paper or present your findings at a conference. If you publish before you protect your discovery, you lose your right to patent in most parts of the world outside the United States.

The following steps are involved in the licensing process:

1. The inventor/researcher must thoroughly review and understand Creighton University's Intellectual Property Policy (4.2.3).
2. The inventor/researcher submits an Invention Disclosure Form.
3. Disclosures received by IRM are logged in, assigned an identification number, and assigned to one of our staff for management.
4. IRM will determine whether Creighton will file for a patent on the invention, and make patent prosecution decisions as the discovery is developed.
5. The staff member involved will meet with the inventor(s). Together they will discuss the discovery and assess manufacturing feasibility, novelty, potential applications and markets. If deemed viable, IRM will work with the inventor(s) on a preliminary licensing strategy.
6. If needed, IRM will attempt to obtain necessary resources to further develop the invention. Additionally, IRM will identify potential partners, and, where possible, will negotiate agreements to fund further efforts to perfect the invention.
7. IRM will endeavor to find a licensee for the discovery. IRM will work with the inventor(s) to prepare a license proposal, if an interested company can be found. IRM also will facilitate negotiations to arrive at a mutually satisfactory agreement for all parties.
8. After the licensing agreement has been signed, the licensee's performance is monitored by IRM throughout the duration of the license agreement. License agreements typically require periodic financial or development reports from the licensees. If needed, IRM will assist in reevaluating a licensing relationship to adjust to changed circumstances. Licensees or the University can request an amendment to the agreement at any time during its duration.
9. All royalties are collected by IRM. All royalty distributions occur within 30 days of receipt. Royalties are apportioned as follows:
• The net royalty is the gross royalty minus 15 percent, which is deducted to support IRM's operations, as well as direct expenses, such as patent costs that are not reimbursed by licensees, and other related expenses.
• The net royalty distribution can be broken down as follows:
• 50 percent is given to the inventor(s)
• 50 percent is given to the University
• The distribution of the University's portion is as follows:
• 50 percent is disbursed to the University President's Office
• 25 percent is given to the school at Creighton involved in the discovery
• 25 percent is dispensed to the department at Creighton involved in the discovery