Technology Transfer Office

Display of pills and capsules in amber containers

The photo shows a CDC scientist implementing molecular testing, in order to test for different types of polio. CDC PHIL photo, James Gathany.

This photograph depicts an Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch (EDLB), Public Health scientist, who was testing bacterial samples for their antimicrobial susceptibility.

Collaborating with CDC Scientists

Learn more about collaboration opportunities with CDC scientists. CDC PHIL photo, James Gathany.

A laboratorian analyzes a participant sample under a laboratory hood in an acute febrile illness (AFI) research project.

Information for CDC Researchers on External Collaborations

Learn about collaborative opportunities available to CDC researchers. CDC PHIL photo, Nicholas Tenorio.

This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientist was reviewing a plate with serological test samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Resources for Laboratories Working on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

A CDC scientist was reviewing a plate with serological test samples. Serological testing is used to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, which indicate past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, and is important to the understanding of disease prevalence within a population. CDC PHIL photo, James Gathany.

Our Mission

Our goal is to support CDC’s mission by facilitating the development and transition of CDC innovations into products that benefit the health of Americans and people around the world.

What We Do

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technology Transfer Office (TTO) partners with industry, academia, non-profits, and other government agencies to transfer CDC’s research portfolio into products and services to improve public health. TTO and our NIH partners evaluate, protect, market, license, monitor, and manage the wide range of CDC’s scientific discoveries. The team provides an array of services to support technology transfer activities: negotiating collaborative agreements in accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, reviewing employee invention reports, making recommendations concerning the filing of domestic and foreign patent applications and working closely with inventors and outside parties to facilitate commercialization efforts for public health benefit.

Our Most Frequently Provided Services

Licensing (both patented and non-patented technologies)
Research collaborations
Intellectual property (IP) management
Material transfers
Confidential disclosure agreements

CDC’s technologies include diagnostics assays, early therapeutics, vaccine candidates, research tools such as biological materials and isolates, devices, software, and occupational safety and health products. Technologies developed by CDC scientists and engineers have been licensed to commercial partners in many parts of the world.

Benefits of CDC Technology Transfer

Advances for public health
Opportunity for global impact
Permissions to use Federal IP, scientific knowledge, and research materials
Partnering with a Federal laboratory and a variety of agreement options
Prospects for developing and commercializing new products and services
Economic development
Return on taxpayer investment
Potential to further CDC innovation and scientific research