If the patent attorney returns an opinion that the invention is patentable and has commercial viability, the Patent Committee will review the opinion and make a recommendation to the Vice President for Research regarding application for a patent. Final determination will be made by the Vice President for Research. It is most likely that prior to applying for the patent, it will be necessary to locate, and bring under license agreement, a commercial sponsor interested in further development and commercial exploitation of the technology. The entire process involved in patenting an invention takes at least a year and generally longer. It is important to remember that a patent application must be filed within one year of public disclosure for a US patent.
Public disclosure is any publication or presentation of the invention.
Public disclosure of any kind will usually preclude a foreign patent immediately.