- Intellectual Property Manager
Office of Technology Management
Carol Priddy, intellectual property manager in the Office of Technology Management, has been with WashU since 2015. She creates and manages standard operating procedures (SOPs) around incoming disclosures and patent administration and provides cost-saving methods to streamline work in her department. Having benefited personally from the work that began at a university, Priddy enjoys working with inventors and patents.
By protecting the intellectual property of WashU, I feel that I contribute to the solutions that enhance people’s lives by advancing world class research that will solve problems for years to come. From an invention to a protected asset of a patent or copyright to a product provided through a WashU startup, I can see the difference WashU makes and love having a small part in it.”
Carol Priddy, Intellectual Property Manager
People are the core of what Priddy does. She credits her team in the Office of Technology Management for allowing her to meet, learn and grow from a wide variety of individuals and work with them. Because of her work, she can develop her work for the next generation to continue WashU’s missions.
Priddy has led or co-created several initiatives that have saved time, reduced costs and strengthened communication across teams.
Accomplishments at WashU
- In 2017, Priddy converted two separate databases to one docketing database, bringing functions in-house and significantly lowering costs.
- In 2018, she led the transition to new case management software, confirming data and training the team. Following this, she streamlined the investigator document signature process. This change increased the document completion process from 50% to over 97% today.
- In 2023, Priddy co-created a monthly program to educate the licensing team on how compliance, patent fees, governmental funding and other operations-related issues affect a technology’s path to commercialization. This better informs WashU’s licensing team as they manage their portfolios.
- In 2024, Priddy co-created a cross-functional process that provides critical management of patent costs for internal and external counsel.
- Priddy has also implemented a monthly docket review with staff to evaluate upcoming deadlines and set up dedicated time for them to communicate with counsel and investigators regarding patent actions, enabling ongoing control of extension fees and repetitive filings.
Beyond her contributions, Priddy provides a warm and welcoming presence. She often volunteers to greet faculty inventors at registration tables. However, her leadership extends nationally through her work with the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM). Recently, she was honored with the 2024 TechPipeline National Impact Award for Excellence in Office Operations.
Priddy finds her greatest joy spending time with her family, including her three corgis. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughter. She also crafts and scrapbooks with her friends.