Celebrating 40 Years of Innovation: The Story of Emory OTT

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 …

From the Director: Emory OTT Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation

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 …