At the Annual Meeting of the Association of University Technology Managers in San Diego, California, TB Alliance CEO, Dr. Maria C. Freire was presented with the 2002 Bayh-Dole Award for her leadership and service to the profession of technology transfer and for her tireless support of the principles of the Bayh-Dole Act.
The 1980 Bayh-Dole Act addresses intellectual property rights in federally funded grants, contracts and cooperative agreements. The Bayh-Dole Award acknowledges outstanding individuals who demonstrate untiring efforts to foster and promote intellectual property activities on behalf of the university and nonprofit technology transfer community.
Dr. Freire was acknowledged for her work in developing a plan for Congress to ensure that the results of the U.S. National Institutes of Health's biomedical research would reach and benefit society. In her remarks, Dr. Freire called for "new ways to better balance the business requirement for monetary return with the social imperative of improving public health worldwide."
About Bayh-Dole
The Bayh-Dole Act (P.L. 96-517, Patent and Trademark Act Amendments of 1980) created a uniform patent policy among the many federal agencies that fund research, enabling small businesses and non-profit organizations, including universities, to retain title to inventions made under federally-funded research programs. This legislation was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Birch Bayh, D-Ind., and Robert Dole, R-Kan., and was enacted Dec. 12, 1980.
About AUTM
The Association for University Technology Managers is a nonprofit organization with an international membership of more than 3,000 technology managers and business executives. AUTM members — managers of intellectual property, one of the most active growth sectors of the global economy — represent more than 300 universities, research institutions, teaching hospitals as well as numerous businesses and government organizations.