Steps to Developing a Public-Private Partnership with NIH

1. Identify a scientific or clinical problem better answered in partnership than alone!
   
   
2. Consider partnership options — Partnerships can:
   
   • Be established directly between the NIH (as a whole or through one or more ICs) and one or more outside entities.
   • Be developed via the Foundation for NIH (FNIH). The FNIH is an independent public charitable foundation established by Congress to support the activities of the NIH. The FNIH can be an important ally in building effective partnerships.
   • Involve one or more other charitable foundations. Each partnership is based on agreements between or among the partners regarding the aims and goals of the partnership, roles of the partners, and governance. Other issues such as the management of intellectual property, data access and data sharing, and human subjects concerns require careful consideration and planning. The NIH Manual Chapter 1167 provides further guidance regarding when and how to consider PPPs.
3. Discuss how to structure the relationships to optimize the science.
   
   
4. Memorialize the PPP goals and structure in a MOU and clear it appropriately.

NIH PPP Program staff can help you:

• Identify potential or additional partners.
• Decide whether to establish your partnership directly or to approach the FNIH or another foundation.
• Articulate the structure and policies of your PPP.
• Define approaches and coordinate consultations with the FNIH, or other foundations, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Technology Transfer, and other relevant resources.
• Identify potential or actual conflicts of interest or mission in a partnership.

NIH PPP Program staff can help at every step in this process. Please contact us!

Up to Top

Search This Site:

NIH Public-Private Partnerships
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
pppartnerships@od.nih.gov