From Design to Development: Understanding Translational Research
Patent protection and scholarly publication are not mutually exclusive. Filing before disclosure preserves rights while permitting academic communication. When managed carefully, they serve complementary purposes, enabling both contribution to the field and preservation of broader application.
This seminar series builds on the recognition that research can shape society beyond disciplinary boundaries. To realize this potential, researchers must understand the structures that guide invention, protection, and commercialization. The series moves through the research lifecycle, bringing together technology transfer professionals, legal counsel, business development experts, and state and institutional partners to address each transition. Together, they reflect the broader ecosystem, from university administration to external collaborators, that supports researchers in translating ideas into impact.
Contact Nicholas Brown in the Research ASSIST Office at nebrown7@ua.edu or (205) 348-0898.
Upcoming Sessions
Innovate UA: How to Get Involved
- Date: September 16, 2026, 12:00-1:00pm
- Location: Virtual (Zoom)
- Speaker: Nicholas Brown, ASSIST Research Engagement Program Manager
- The journey from a research concept to a real-world application requires a coordinated network of support, funding, and mentorship. Innovate UA serves as the university-wide umbrella for these efforts, uniting programs that accelerate research translation and foster a culture of entrepreneurship at The University of Alabama. This session provides a comprehensive guide to the initiatives available and how faculty, staff, and students can get involved the university’s expanding innovation ecosystem.
- Register to Attend
IP as a Catalyst for Investment and Growth of a Startup
- Date: November 11, 2026, 12:00-1:00pm
- Location: Virtual (Zoom)
- Speaker: Margo Monroe, PhD, JD, Principal at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
- This session explores how a robust intellectual property strategy transforms academic discoveries into commercially viable assets. We will discuss how patents and IP management de-risk early-stage science, making university spinouts more attractive to venture investors and industry partners. Attendees will learn how thoughtful IP foundations enable founders to articulate competitive differentiation, negotiate equitable licensing terms, and build the scalable business models necessary to translate breakthroughs into high-impact, fundable companies.
- Register to Attend
Past Sessions: 2025-2026
Session 5: Partnerships in Practice: Collaboration, Compliance, and Sponsored Research
Date: March 12, 2026, 12:00–1:00pm
Location: Student Center 3104
Speakers: Nichole Cavin, Executive Director, Office for Sponsored Programs; Hallie Leavell, Director, Office for Research and Technology Agreements (ORTA); Bill Dean, Industry Engagement Program Manager; Emilee Belk, Research Integrity and COI Program Lead, ORTA (contributor)
As research transitions from protection to commercialization, new questions arise around licensing, partnerships, and academic responsibilities. This session will explore how to engage with inter-institutional collaborators and industry while adhering to university expectations. Emphasis will be placed on managing conflict of interest and conflict of commitment, especially when faculty assume roles beyond the university such as consulting, startup participation, or dual appointments. The discussion will also consider how sponsored agreements intersect with intellectual property and shape the pathways for collaboration with external partners. Panelists will clarify how funding agreements, inter-institutional (IIA), nondisclosure (NDA), and material transfer agreements (MTA) identify ownership, safeguard institutional interests, and formalize collaboration.
Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees.
Session 6 − Mission Critical: Navigating the DOD and DARPA Translational Lifecycle
Date: April 15, 2026, 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Zoom
Speakers: Nicholas Brown, ASSIST Research Engagement Program Manager and Logan Whelchel, Venture Development Specialist
The Department of Defense (DOD) and DARPA offer high-impact pathways for translating academic research into mission-critical technologies. Unlike traditional grants, defense research utilizes accelerated timelines and milestone-driven funding. This seminar provides a roadmap for faculty and student innovators to engage with the defense enterprise, covering the full translational lifecycle: finding opportunities, contracting & compliance, project management, and transition to market.
Past Sessions: 2024-2025
Seminar 1: From Disclosure to Patent: Navigating OIC’s IP Protection Process
Speaker: Megan McNab, Assistant Technology Manager, Office for Innovation & Commercialization, and Dr. Christopher L. Curfman, Principal, Meunier Carlin & Curfman IP Law
Date: October 22, 2024
Intellectual property (IP) protection is essential for safeguarding innovations and maximizing their commercial potential. This presentation will discuss the Office of Innovation and Commercialization’s (OIC) protocol for handling IP disclosures, securing patent protection, and outlining invention disclosures, provisional, and non-provisional patents. Participants will gain insights into IP management process and the benefits of legal protection for innovations.
Seminar 2: The OSP Lifecycle: From Proposal Submission to IP Management in Research
Speaker: Nichole Cavin, Executive Director, Office for Sponsored Programs
Date: November 15, 2024
Understanding the workflow of sponsored programs is crucial for researchers managing grants, contracts, and intellectual property. This presentation will provide an overview of UA’s Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) and cover key steps from proposal submission to IP management. It will also offer insights into using the Cayuse system, focusing on the IP tab and its importance when a potential or existing IP is involved. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how to efficiently manage externally sponsored projects and IP.
Seminar 3: Integrity and Objectivity: A presentation about the pillars of ethical research
Speaker: Kory Trott, Director, Research Ethics & Compliance
Date: January 23, 2025
Integrity and objectivity are essential components of trustworthy research and innovation. This presentation will discuss authorship ethics, research misconduct, and the process for disclosing and managing financial conflicts of interest in research.
Seminar 4: Privacy Re-visited: How to Protect Your Research While Seeking Industry Engagement
Speaker: Hallie Leavell, Associate Director, Office for Research & Technology Agreements
Date: February 20, 2025
Legal agreements are crucial for safeguarding proprietary information and ensuring clear terms in research collaborations. This presentation will discuss how agreements, such as Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Material Transfer Agreements (MTA), and Inter-Institutional Agreements (IIA), protect sensitive data, clarify IP ownership, and promote effective collaboration in research and development.
Seminar 5: Transforming Research into Revenue: The Licensing Process for IP
Speaker: Dr. Nghia Chiem, Director, Office for Innovation & Commercialization
Date: March 20, 2025
Licensing is a key mechanism for transforming research into real-world applications and generating revenue from innovations. This presentation will focus on the licensing process, its importance in the commercialization of inventions, and the advantages of industry collaboration in developing innovative technologies.
Panel Discussion: Business Insights – Moving from Lab to Marketplace
Panelists:
- Tye Warren, UA Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- Kristinn Gretarsson, Business Consulting Program Director, Economic Dev, Alabama International Trade Center (AITC)
- Emily Moore, Business Consulting Program Director, Alabama SBDC Network
Moderator: Brian K. Davis, Director, Alabama International Trade Center
Bringing your invention to market can be an intimidating journey, particularly when navigating the complexities of a first-time business venture tied to Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) federal-funded grants. This presentation will introduce you to practical strategies to make a successful transition from the research lab to manufactured products that become marketable assets for thriving businesses. Key topics will include essential aspects of business planning, choosing the right business entity, product design, building a team of business professionals, manufacturing processes, and marketing strategies.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2331381. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.