[cave note: read on!]

However, while the legislation provides a general framework to promote expanded utilization of the results of federally funded research and development,

questions are being raised as to the adequacy of current arrangements.

Most agree that closer cooperation among industry, government, and academia can augment funding sources (both in the private and public sectors),increasetechnology transfer,stimulate more innovation (beyond invention), lead to new products and processes, and expand markets.

However, others point out that collaboration may provide an

increased opportunity for conflict of interest, redirection of research, less openness in sharing of scientific discovery, and a greater emphasis on applied rather than basic research.

Additional concerns have been expressed, particularly in relation to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, that the government and the public are not receiving benefits commensurate with the federal contribution to the initial research and development.

Basically, as the title says, the Act does not give any research institution the right to make a breakthrough discovery and then sit on it. By taking Federal money to do the research, you are committed to then using the results to better society, and you are allowed to make money while you do it! What could be better?!!?

If an institution does not use their federally funded research commercially, within a reasonable amount of time, they are in violation of the Bayh-Dole Act and can have their rights to the research taken over by the government with all rights and patents forfeited.

Yea, like that's going to happen.

There are several institutions (especially the one that starts with "Y", ends in "E" and has an "AL" in the middle, and sounds like the lock company that is called YALE) that have patented parts of the Lyme pathogen, but keep it to themselves to this day, doing nothing to help anyone.

Another reason why the IDSA doesn't want a Lyme bill passed; because that research will be made available for study by others.

Tom

http://www.cimit.org/news/regulatory/coi_part3.pdf

Tom, you said:

especially the one that starts with "Y", ends in "E" and has an "AL" in the middle, and sounds like the lock company that is called YALE

You know darn well I'm not good with puzzles. C'mon, c'mon---- tell us that name of that university!

Thanks for finding the link. I had it at home, but was trying to find it on the CIMIT site and just couldn't remember.

It's a great paper that touches at the heart of what the Bayh-Dole Act should have inspired in those in research, but we all know that with the possibility of riches beyond avarice, there will be distrust and corruption of power.

Tom