Licensing: Background and Policy Information

Each year, scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) generate new inventions based on rigorous basic scientific and biomedical research. The NIMH Technology Transfer Office (TTO) , in turn, uses a variety of licensing mechanisms to transfer these inventions for development commercially that will benefit the public health. Where necessary, NIMH TTO seeks intellectual property protection (that is, "patents") on particular inventions to ensure their effective commercial development.