Invention Review at the Technology Transfer Center

How an NCI Employee Invention Report is Reviewed

Your Employee Invention Report (EIR) will be reviewed by TTC to ensure a well-formed decision on patent filing. If you are an NCI scientist, the TTC schedules a confidential review by the NCI Technology Review Group (TRG)—a group of fellow NCI scientists who evaluate EIRs and patent applications in light of the PHS Patent Policy.

TRG reviewers have the appropriate scientific expertise to evaluate the discovery, and at least two TRG reviewers review any EIR. TRG reviewers then present their assessment and recommendations about the invention at a monthly meeting with your Technology Transfer Manager (TTM) present.

You will be informed by your TTM of the TRG’s recommendation and will be asked to comment on it, and then the recommendation is sent to your Division Director as to whether or not a patent application should be filed.

Who Decides?

Based upon the recommendation from the TRG, it is the Division Director’s responsibility to decide if a patent application will be filed.

If your Division Director agrees to file a patent application, the TTM sends your EIR to a contract law firm to prepare a patent application and filing with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). You will work closely with the patent attorney at the contract law firm on the preparation of the patent application, with the assistance of the TTM.

How Long Does This Take?

The EIR review process takes approximately three months. You can expedite the process by submitting your completed EIR to your TTM as soon as possible.

The TTM assigned to an NCI inventor’s laboratory will be the contact person for assisting TTC throughout the review process. We are here to help you!