Ann M. HAMMERSLADirector, Div. of Policy, Office of Tech. Transfer, Nat’l Institutes of Health (U.S.)

The United States National Institutes of Health is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary U.S. Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. NIH is the steward of medical and behavioural research for the United States. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behaviour of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. This mission is advanced by NIH’s lead in funding and supporting both an extensive research program within NIH as well as at NIH’s grantees and contractors worldwide. In order to pursue and accomplish its mission to support biomedical research and to improve the health of people worldwide, NIH’s mandate is to ensure that new technologies developed within NIH or with the use of NIH funds are transferred to the private sector and commercialized in an expeditious and efficient manner. In order to meet its mission and mandate to transfer technologies developed with NIH funds, NIH has initiated, developed, and enacted policies to support the patenting and the transfer of its technologies for the benefit of the public.