For CRADA Collaborators - Private Industry, etc.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) values highly its research partnerships with private industry, nonprofits and other private organizations. Whether the collaboration is initiated by VA, a VA principal investigator (PI) or the private sector, a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is a very effective and unique tool. VA's Clinical Trial CRADA (CT CRADA)- is the federal government equivalent to a clinical trial agreement (CTA) and allows all parties to realize their objectives while serving veterans and the American public by fostering translation of discoveries into medical practice.
CRADAs provide special benefits to industry partners. These include:
Advantages of CRADAs:
- Protect background inventions, trade secrets and confidential information
- Offer access to VA research resources including personnel, services and property
- Establish intellectual property ownership and licensing options in advance of an invention
- Leverage federal expertise to develop products with commercialization potential
- Contain legally enforceable terms
- Supported by the full weight of the Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA)
- Comprise a government-wide, readily understood and accepted mechanisms for establishing collaborative relationships
- Review by VA and collaborator attorneys ensures concurrence and consistency with federal statutes, regulations and policies
- Standardized terms expedite execution and prompt initiation of research partnerships, but flexible enough to address variable research relationships
- Respect VA/university relationships, principal investigator needs and sponsors' interests
- Allow coordination of a single CRADA for multi-center studies and execution of "master" CRADAs with major sponsors, eliminating the need for individually negotiated contracts
Information and links to information about CRADAs of particular interest to private sector collaborators are provided on this page, but please browse other CRADA pages on this web site, particularly the page containing CRADA Resources.
To ensure a smooth execution of a CRADA, possible participants will include:
Principal Investigator(s) (PI), the individual with primary responsibility for the conduct of the research. VA PIs may be VA-salaried, without compensation (WOC) appointees and/or may be dually appointed VA university personnel (DAP). To accommodate intellectual property involving DAPs, VA has entered into CTAAs with many of its academic affiliates.
VA Research Office personnel at the VA facility where the research will be conducted will ensure that the necessary VA approvals by the facility Research and Development (R&D) Committee are obtained and will oversee compliance with VA and other federal requirements.
VA-affiliated Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations (NPC) (231 KB, Word) which are authorized by Congress under 38 USC 7361 to facilitate VA research and education. Most VA research facilities are affiliated with an NPC and it is likely that NPC staff will be involved in negotiating CRADAs, will help advance it through the VA approval process, and then will administer the research project including the funds.
VA Attorneys VA Regional Counsel Offices around the country and the Office of General Counsel in VA Central Office. VA attorneys may also be involved in negotiating CRADA clauses and are responsible for reviewing all CRADAs within thirty days of submission.
VA Technology Transfer Program (TTP) staff are responsible for overall management of VA's technology transfer program and can be good resource during the CRADA process.