Richard Rodriguez

As Director of the Division of Technology Development and Transfer (DTDT) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), Richard Rodriguez has provided a high degree of leadership and vision instrumental to enhancing the transfer of innovative technologies developed by NIH and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists to industrial partners. His efforts have enabled new biomedical products to reach the consumer, as well as unique biological materials to be made available for use as research tools by the private sector.

Rodriguez has done an exceptional job managing DTDT by improving systems and automating work processes. Under his leadership, DTDT has implemented a paperless work process for patenting and licensing activities using a SharePoint adaptation that automates the entire process and workflow. Centralized storage fosters a more open, collaborative environment, which facilitates the ease of document review, processing, and reassignment to other individuals. The net result is an efficient and flexible system for processing much of OTT’s internal work, and an improvement in quality and timeliness that allows staff to reappropriate the time saved to focus on critical activities, such as patent prosecution management and licensing negotiations. 

Rodriguez has also played an important role in developing new model agreements for licensing NIH and FDA inventions to startup companies and nonprofits. The new Model Nonprofit License Agreement was announced at a White House Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation for Global Development as part of the President’s “Startup America” initiative. The new license expedites the transfer of NIH and FDA patents for drugs and biologics under terms that are favorable to companies in the startup phase. To date, OTT has received 19 startup license applications and executed three option agreements and one startup Patent License Agreement. 

Due to budget constraints, OTT has been unable to fill the position of General Medicine Branch Chief. As many Branch activities are mediated through the Branch Chief, this position is important to the success of the Branch. Rodriguez has served as Acting Branch Chief for more than 18 months. He sets an excellent example by shouldering the additional burden while continuing his many and diverse duties as DTDT Director. While he has juggled these two roles far longer than expected, his efficiency, accessibility and positive attitude have served the General Medicine Branch well, and it is functioning at an outstanding level. 

Rodriguez has shown the important leadership skills that have energized those working for him and improved broader relationships within and outside OTT. He is creative, inspires trust, exhibits originality, and is decisive as needed. He communicates a clear message, delegates to promote team development, and works with his Branch chiefs to allow them to achieve their potential.