This allows the OCR to discuss the innovation in detail, and to spell out the development options. While Yale's procedures are fairly standard, they differ somewhat from those of other schools, notes Dr. Bickerton. Yale, on the other hand, waits to see if an invention has utility. Yale also tries to make its inventions available to the widest possible audience. If they opt for exclusive agreements only, Yale seeks out the best candidate, basing the decision not on a competitive bid but rather on an assessment of the prospect's resources, degree of interest, and marketing capability.
Incentive is an important ingredient.
In addition to the procedures, OCR drafts the legal documents that accompany them. Yale, however, shares it with the university at large. Both discoveries are Yale's most prestigious to date. Zerit, a treatment for AIDS, was licensed through the OCR to Bristol-Myers in 1988, and appeared on the market two years ago. The Lyme vaccine is currently in the laboratories at SmithKline Beecham, where staff are preparing to register it with the federal Food and Drug Administration.