On December 12, 2025, the Bayh-Dole Coalition held a special webinar celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Bayh-Dole Act.

The program began with an overview of Bayh-Dole's origins, the challenges Congress aimed to solve, and the balance lawmakers crafted to ensure publicly funded discoveries could reach the market. We assessed the current policy landscape and threats facing the law -- including a proposal for the government to seize half of the royalties on university inventions it helps fund and efforts to misuse march-in rights.

Panelists shared key successes and examined the economic and societal benefits the law has had in their industries. Experts included:

• Steve Susalka: CEO at AUTM
• Nichole Mercier: Assistant Vice Chancellor & Managing Director for Technology Transfer at Washington University in St. Louis
• Vinit Nijhawan: Managing Director at MassVentures
• Jennifer Pagán: Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at AquiSense, Inc.
• Joseph P. Allen (Moderator): Executive Director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition and former staffer to Sen. Birch Bayh (D-IN)