The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is fully engaged in technology transfer. NIDA views technology transfer as offering unique opportunities to establish collaborative relationships with the private sector in order to facilitate the transfer of research results into public health advances. Opportunities based upon basic research findings, applied research findings, and in potential product development are considered and appropriate agreements facilitating further research and development may be negotiated within the context of National Institutes of Health (NIH) policies.

The Division of Treatment Research and Development (DTRD) serves as the coordinating office for the technology transfer activities conducted at NIDA. The Institute's Technology Development Coordinator and Alternate Technology Development Coordinator are located in DTRD and oversee the overall implementation of technology transfer functions mandated by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 and Executive Order No. 12591. Among these activities are:

1. The exchange of confidential information under a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA).
2. The exchange of research materials under a Simple Letter Agreement (SLA) or Material Transfer Agreement (MTA).
3. The receipt, by NIDA, of materials under a Materials Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (MCRADA).
4. Collaborative research (preclinical or clinical) conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
5. Clinical studies conducted under a Clinical Trials Agreement (CTA).
6. Additionally, the Medications Development Program within NIDA offers a confidential (submitted compounds are blinded prior to testing) preclinical screening program aimed at profiling compounds or libraries of compounds that the program feels may have potential use, based on their structure and/or activity, in the treatment of addiction to cocaine, methamphetamine, or opiates. If you wish to discuss the procedures, protocols, or scientific rationales utilized in this program, please contact Dr. Jane Acri at (301) 443-8489.

Model NIH agreements are utilized by NIDA for items 1-4, as the starting point for negotiations for formal interactions. Examples of these models are shown in the links below. Additionally, the current Clinical Trial Agreement and Preclinical Screening Agreement referenced in items 5 and 6, above are also shown in the links below. Each of the above agreements has certain advantages or disadvantages based on each individual set of facts, and is subject to negotiation. Interactions are expedited and facilitated by discussing the appropriate document with the technology transfer personnel listed below. Technology transfer activities involving extramural research are handled directly through the Technology Transfer contacts in the DTRD. NIDA's Technology Development Coordinator is Dr. Frank Vocci, and Alternate Technology Development Coordinator is Mr. Lee Cummings. They may be reached at (301) 443-6173.

Technology transfer activities involving NIDA's Intramural Research Program (IRP) are initiated with IRP and are processed via an NIH service center contract with the National Cancer Institute's Technology Transfer Branch. Those persons wishing to interact with NIDA's IRP should contact Mary Affeldt or Diane French, Administrative Management Branch, IRP at (410) 550-1490.

For a more complete description of the NIH technology transfer process and policies, please see the NIH Office of Technology Transfer website at http://ott.od.nih.gov/.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Questions? See our Contact Information. Last updated on Tuesday, September 24, 2002.