NAI Member Spotlight: A Q&A with faculty driving innovation at Emory OTT

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Faculty research is what drives our work in Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Their discoveries shape every part of our mission, whether it’s filing patents, licensing technologies, or guiding early-stage startups. As a way to honor their accomplishments, OTT nominates outstanding faculty innovators to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), an esteemed organization that recognizes inventors with U.S. patents. In our 40 years of existence, OTT has fostered relationships with faculty members and encouraged academic inventorship. Here, we spoke with several of Emory’s esteemed NAI Fellows and Senior Members about their career as innovators and experiences partnering with OTT. Read More …

No Patent Needed: Commercializing with Copyrights and Open-Source Licenses – Part 1

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

In the process of commercialization, the word “patent” has become something of a status symbol. Which is fair, considering the basic road to commercialization is to invent, patent, and produce. But what about copyrights and open-source software (OSS) licenses, which don’t involve patents? These different types of intellectual property warrant special consideration during the commercialization process. What is a license? The term “license” comes up quite a bit in the commercialization process. Basically, a license is an agreement between the owner of the intellectual property and the entity that wants to use said intellectual property. The agreement allows the licensee Read More …

The Emory OTT Licensing Internship: Cultivating the Next Generation of Tech Transfer

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

The OTT licensing internship, according to its coordinator Catherine Murari-Kanti, PhD, is about “setting up a pipeline for future licensing associates and the future of tech transfer by making sure we have excellently trained people who can take the reins over the next few years.” The program, aimed at graduate students both within the Emory community and outside of it, offers interns a look at a fulfilling career outside the lab – one that sits at the exciting intersection of science, business, law, and innovation. What to Expect The program commences in the last week of August, where the students Read More …

4 Emory OTT Success Stories You Might Not Know

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer has transformed many ideas into products on the market in the last 40 years. You may have even heard of some of our products, like the HIV antiretrovirals emtricitabine and lamivudine, which went on to become brand names like Truvada, Dovato, and Descovy. Or maybe you’ve heard of molnupiravir, one of the world’s first approved oral medications for the treatment of COVID-19. While not all of Emory’s 65+ products to make it to the market have been blockbusters, they all certainly have created positive impact. Here, we’re highlighting a few under-the-radar success stories that demonstrate Read More …

The 2025 Tech Partnership Forum: Technology, Partnering and Faculty Honors

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Each year, Emory researchers push the boundaries of innovation, developing groundbreaking technologies with the potential to change the world. When these technologies are patented, licensed, and brought to market, it marks a significant milestone in advancing research and real-world impact. On April 17, 2025, Emory OTT hosted the Tech Partnership Forum: Technology, Partnering & Faculty Honors. Since the event’s inception in 2007, it’s changed names and locations, and it’s grown to host more than 150 people. But even as it’s evolved, our annual event has always highlighted exceptional faculty contributions to innovation and commercialization. It was an especially remarkable year, Read More …

Transforming Ideas into Impact: Linda Kesselring’s Legacy in Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

  Linda Kesselring is a seasoned operations leader who has dedicated nearly 30 years to Emory University, with almost two decades as the Operations Director in the Emory Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Throughout her career, she has been a key player in enhancing the office’s strategic direction, focusing on project management, financial oversight, and technology transfer. Linda’s innovative approach has led to significant improvements in operational efficiency and has fostered a culture of excellence within the team. Notably, her efforts have helped position OTT as a leader in the field, enabling impactful collaborations and driving advancements in technology transfer. Read More …

15 Good Minutes: Claudia Morris, MD

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Pediatric emergency medicine physician, research director for the Center of Clinical and Translational Research, professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine, and chief investigator for the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. These are only a few of the many hats that Claudia Morris, MD, wears as she works to improve the lives of her patients, students, and those impacted by her clinical research. Morris has been involved with clinical and translational research for over 25 years. In her words, it has been “quite a journey.” That said, she didn’t intend to be a Read More …

OTTers Reflect on 40 Years of Creating Impact

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) helps researchers and inventors turn their research into reality, and the people behind the scenes make it possible. OTT staff members are a tight-knit team who work tirelessly to commercialize Emory technologies and maximize their impact. Did you know that we call ourselves OTTers (or “otters”)? Our collective nickname, along with our monthly OTTer Award honoring high-performing licensing associates, build a strong sense of camaraderie and drive us to do our best work. To celebrate the outstanding work of OTT employees over our 40 years, we asked a few current OTTers about their experience Read More …

Celebrating 40 Years of Innovation: The Story of Emory OTT

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

The passage of the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980, which allowed universities to take ownership of their inventions made with federally funded research, was a pivotal moment for academic innovation. The shift prompted universities nationwide—including Emory University—to establish technology transfer offices to facilitate this newfound process, and by 1985, Emory had created its Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Over the next four decades, Emory OTT grew into a leader in the field, setting the standard for how universities can transform academic innovation into tangible solutions. As we celebrate 40 years of Emory OTT, let’s take a closer look at its beginnings, Read More …

Biolocity: The Business of Making Science

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

What’s the real measure of research impact? To quote John Nicosia, the former interim managing director of Biolocity, “A researcher might consider their research to be impactful if they publish their findings in a prominent journal and receive 200 citations on their paper. But imagine the impact if their research was translated into a product that treated 200,000 people.” That’s the goal of Biolocity: to find promising biomedical research in academia and supply those researchers with the resources, support, and tools they need to make their dreams of making an impact in medicine a reality. Overcoming guidance and funding challenges Read More …

From the Director: Emory OTT Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Happy New Year, and I hope 2025 brings you joy, happiness, and prosperity. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), so I’m reflecting on what the world looked like four decades ago. In 1985, Back to the Future was released, and who knew the kind of cultural phenomenon it would become? Michael Jordan was also named NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1985 (but I think we all knew then that he was something special). Personally, I’d just finished my undergraduate degree at Oregon State University and had begun my research career at the Read More …

Happy Holidays! Love, the Algorithm: How Your Browsing History Affects Your Holiday Shopping

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

It’s the season of giving, so it’s time to search the vast expanse of online stores to find the perfect gifts! But browser beware: When you visit a website, you leave behind information about yourself. Those websites you visit may use this data to track your online activity and preferences, which can affect how you experience any given website across the internet. Here are a few ways technology impacts your holiday online shopping. Letters to Santa (…Or Searches on Your Browser) Many businesses try to increase their profit by optimizing their user experience, whether their customers shop online or at Read More …

Trademarked traditions: How IP shapes the holiday season

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Santa and his elves, Rudolph’s red nose, and the melodies of our favorite holiday songs: Many of us cannot imagine the holiday season without the array of familiar symbols we attach to it. However, behind the joy and nostalgia of these seemingly timeless traditions lies the often-overlooked world of intellectual property (IP) law. While these laws ensure creators receive the recognition they deserve for their work, they also play a surprising role in shaping how we share and celebrate the staples of the holiday season. Protecting holiday icons Take Santa, for example. While the character of Santa Claus, with his Read More …

How To: Build an Effective Start-Up Pitch Deck

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

A strong pitch deck is a must for any academic entrepreneur aiming to take their research to the next step and launch a start-up. Decks are the foundation of how ideas are communicated in business but translating years of rigorous research and ambitious plans into a concise and digestible presentation requires strategy, clarity, and a deep understanding of your audience in the market. So, how can you create a pitch deck that captures attention and inspires confidence in your start-up? 1. Start with your Elevator Pitch The opening slide of your deck sets the tone for the rest of your Read More …

I’ve Submitted my Invention … Now What?: Or, The First Steps with Emory OTT!

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

  A faculty member has a great invention. They submit an invention disclosure. What happens next? Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) is an Emory researcher’s first stop on the road to commercialization. From the moment a disclosure is submitted, our staff works to ensure a smooth and efficient process for all parties involved. Each invention disclosure is assigned a tech ID number and OTT licensing associate. The licensing associate will then have some initial conversations with the faculty member about their goals for the product or project and the type of funding surrounding their research. From this point on, Read More …

Have Patience with Patents: A Guide to Utility, Design, and Plant Patents

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

If a prospective patent enthusiast Googles “patents explained,” they can find maybe two websites in the top results that aren’t riddled with complicated definitions and explanations. However, patents are a subject that anyone can find fascinating as long as they receive the information in an interesting and relatable way. Without further delay, let’s get into it! Let’s start with the definition: Patents are “the granting of a property right by a sovereign authority to an inventor,” according to Investopedia. This simply means that a patent is a government’s way of promising that if an inventor discloses information about their invention, Read More …

Tackling the Terms of Technology Transfer

Posted onAuthorLinda Kesselring

As with any field, technology transfer comes with its own special language. But there is no need to worry when you face an article filled with confusing acronyms. Keep this glossary handy for when you need to break down the different types of agreements used throughout the technology transfer process. MTA & DUA MTA stands for Material Transfer Agreement and DUA stands for Data Use Agreement. Collaboration is critical to research and technology development. So, colleagues may want to protect the research tools that they share with each other. MTAs and DUAs are formal contracts that define the proper use Read More …

The ABCs of Start-up Funding

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

The lessons learned from fundraising for your childhood sports team may come in handy as you begin to grow your start-up. While 29% of start-ups fail after running out of money, series funding is a useful way to overcome this obstacle. Fundraising may be time consuming, but it is necessary to find investors to prevent your new business from running out of money before it can even begin. This process begins with pre-seed funding, where the founders of a startup raise money from themselves, friends, family, or even an angel investor to begin the development of a prototype or proof-of-concept before moving Read More …

Remaining in research, outside the lab: OTT intern reflects on her journey into tech transfer

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

When I began my PhD in Biomedical Science, I always envisioned myself making new discoveries and making the world a better place. I committed myself to research and I wanted to be a leader in the field.  My doctoral research enhanced my interest in molecular pathways and how deviations in these pathways can lead to various diseases. However, after completing my PhD, I decided to move away from research for a while and transition into academia. Working as an Associate Physiology Professor, I have educated students with various educational backgrounds and helped to enhance their critical thinking skills. While teaching Read More …

New Perspectives: My “invigorating” experience as an OTT intern

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Upon embarking in my graduate studies, I was struck by the vast amount of amazing research that happens on a daily basis. On the other hand, I felt disheartened by the substantial amount of research that failed to make a tangible impact in the “real world.” This realization highlighted the critical importance of effectively commercializing discoveries and optimizing technologies for their practical application. I aspired to pursue a career with a direct, translational impact. To gain a more comprehensive perspective, I joined Emory’s Biotech Consulting Club. Through this club, I discovered its intimate collaboration with Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer Read More …