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Office of Technology Transfer and Innovation

The Office of Technology Transfer and Innovation (OTTI) manages patents, copyrights, and works with faculty and the Intellectual Property Committee to file patents for inventions. The office also acts as the industry's gateway to innovation at the University of Houston, uniting UH with start-ups, midsize companies, large corporations and non-profit organizations to bring university discoveries to the marketplace. OTTI oversees the IP Committee, Technology GAP Fund and the UH Technology Bridge.

The Office of Technology Transfer and Innovation:

  • Manages patents and copyrights.
  • Works with faculty and the IP Committee to file patents for inventions.
  • Fosters research and scholarship through the effective transfer of University-wide technology to industry.
  • Leases office space and lab facilities in the UH Innovation Center & Labs.

For trademarks, please visit the Office of General Counsel.

The IP Process for Inventors

Contact Technology Commercialization to discuss patenting, trademarking or licensing of technologies or inventions. A disclosure form (DOC) should be submitted to Technology Commercialization at least three months prior to disclosure via publication, grant application, presentation, or other medium. Additionally, the Office of Technology Transfer and Innovation strongly advises that no inventions be discussed outside of the University of Houston without first having the other parties sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). NDAs may be attained by contacting the Office of Contracts and Grants.

To submit a disclosure for evaluation, please complete the following steps.

  1. Please download the Invention Disclosure Form.
  2. Complete the form in full and have the form signed by all inventors. We encourage the primary contact on the invention disclosure form be a full-time UH faculty member even if a graduate student or other staff made a larger contribution.
  3. Email the form to the Office of Technology Transfer and Innovation at oipm@central.uh.edu.
  4. An OTTI staff member will contact you. Please allow up to 30 days for disclosure evaluation.

Meet the Team

Administration

Tina Blakes
Program Manager, OTTI Operations
tblakes@central.uh.edu
713.743.9294

Kimberly Moore
Administrative Assistant
kwmoore@central.uh.edu

Technology Commercialization & Intellectual Property

Rick James
Director, Technology Commercialization
rfjames@central.uh.edu
713.743.6601

Chanelle Mack
Assistant Director, Technology Commercialization
cnmack@central.uh.edu
713.743.9722

Nelson Hawkins, Jr.
Program Manager, IP Operations
nkhawkin@central.uh.edu
713.743.1545

Mingwei Chen, PhD
Technology Transfer Associate
mchen51@central.uh.edu
713.743.8376

Startup Development

Tanushree Chatterji
Associate Director, Startup Development
tchatte@central.uh.edu
713.743.2201

Darayle Canada
Program Director, Startup Development
dcanada@central.uh.edu
713.743.7775

Kamesha McNeil
Program Manager, Startup Development
kcmcneil@central.uh.edu
713.743.6214