Public-private partnerships are a special feature of the NIH Roadmap

Public-private partnerships are a special feature of the NIH Roadmap

As researchers tackle even more complex biomedical problems, strategic partnerships between NIH, private industry and nonprofit organizations will become more important. Promoting and facilitating new and ongoing partnerships is the mission of the Program on Public-Private Partnerships, located in the Office of Science Policy (OSP) within the NIH's Office of the Director.

The NIH Program on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) represents an important aspect of the NIH Roadmap. The PPP Program is designed to promote and facilitate the formation of partnerships that will foster excellent science in the public interest and leverage NIH and non-NIH resources. The NIH takes a broad view of partnering and will work cooperatively with other federal agencies, academic scientists and institutions, charitable foundations, patient advocacy groups and individuals, industry, and others. Partnerships may take many forms and range widely in size and scope. Partnerships provide an opportunity for NIH to participate in the greater scientific community and for non-NIH entities to participate in science that is in the interest of the public health.

With an eye toward keeping pace with changes in the business sector and dealing with concerns about intellectual property, patents, and licensing rights, the PPP office will work with relevant NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices to review existing partnership mechanisms and provide recommendations for policies or legal authorities needed to achieve NIH's objectives. The PPP also will work closely with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, a private charitable foundation chartered to help support NIH activities. The PPP also will serve as a point of contact for entities wanting to partner with NIH, providing contact information and advice regarding initiation and implementation of new partnerships. This effort will complement, not replace, the role of the Institutes and Centers as they work with the private sector to serve their missions.

A number of successful public-private partnerships are ongoing within NIH, such as the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OA), The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), and the recently launched Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN). Several others are in development. For information about specific partnership opportunities, contact the relevant NIH Institute or Center. For additional information or advice, visit the Public-Private Partnerships Web site or contact the Program on Public-Private Partnerships.

Source: NIH EXTRAMURAL NEWS, APRIL 2006