Research, Innovation and Commercialization (RIC)

The RIC group is responsible for legal counsel, advice and services for the University’s research, innovation and commercialization team (ERIK). This includes transactional activities as well as research administration and compliance matters. The RIC group also drafts and reviews university policies that impact research and commercialization. 

Transactional activities include negotiating and drafting research and commercialization-related agreements, as well as supporting the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) and the Innovation and Commercialization (I&C) office contracting functions with the same. Examples include Sponsored Research Agreements (SRA), research collaboration agreements, licensing agreements, material transfer agreements, non-disclosure agreements and data use agreements. 

Research administration and compliance matters include providing legal advice to the Office of Research in connection with human subjects and animal research, research misconduct, federal research grants and contracts, undue foreign influence, export control, hazardous agents, financial ties (e.g., conflicts of interest), international research collaborations and data protection and privacy. The RIC group frequently collaborates with our colleagues in the Office of Research and the Office of University Compliance and Integrity (OUCI) to ensure that the university is compliant with federal, state and local laws and regulations impacting research. 

The RIC group also support disputes originating from research and commercialization matters, working collaboratively with our litigation colleagues in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA).