TTO

Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) have gained importance in Turkey since The Supreme Council for Science and Technology made a decision on supporting Technology Transfer Offices as an interface by public funding to contribute universityindustry relations, to support commercialization of technology, and to provide logistic reinforcement for academic researches on December 27, 2011.The definition of Technology Transfer Office in Turkey can be made as an organization performing the role of an interface between universities and industry to create knowledge based economy through this cooperation. Since 2013, 20 TTOs were established within the structure of universities with the funding support of Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). However, the concept of technology transfer was used in the U.S.A. in 1940’s and in Europe in 1980’s. Here in this study, the structure of Technology Transfer Offices in Turkey was analyzed in comparison with Europe and the U.S.A. by using descriptive screening model. As a result of this study the current position of TTOs in Turkey was defined, and the results indicated that TTOs in Turkey will reach the functionality level of their counterparts in the U.S.A and Europe with the existing environment, staff and public support.

Objectives: The impact of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) is complex due to the burden of disease, lifelong treatment requirements, and comorbidities. This study aimed to capture UK societal utility values for health states associated with T2DM and treatment-related adverse events (AEs) to assess the burden of the disease and common AEs.

Methods: Nine health state descriptions were developed (from a literature review and patient and clinician qualitative input) depicting the burden associated with T2DM and treatment-related AEs. These were mild/moderate urinary tract infection (UTI); severe UTI; mycotic infection; moderate hypoglycemic events; severe hypoglycemic events; fear of hypoglycemia; gastrointestinal symptoms; and hypovolemic events. Members of the UK general public (n ¼ 100) valued these states using the time trade-off (TTO) methodology to elicit utility values (between 0 ¼ dead, 1 ¼ full health). Regression analysis was conducted to understand the influence of age and gender.

Results: All treatment-related AEs were found to have a significant effect on utility. From the T2DM baseline state (0.92), the experience of AEs was associated with the following disutility: T2DM with hypovolemic events (0.08); T2DM with mild/moderate UTIs (0.09); T2DM with moderate hypoglycemic events (0.11); T2DM with severe hypoglycemic events (0.15); T2DM with fear of hypoglycemia (0.15); T2DM with severe UTIs (0.19); T2DM with GI symptoms (0.24); and T2DM with mycotic infection (0.25); Males consistently scored the states with significantly lower utility values, but no significant age effects emerged.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that adverse events in T2DM can be a burden for some individuals. The study indicates the potential importance of including information regarding AEs in economic evaluations. Although some states were rated severely in terms of utility; in reality, many of these only last a few days, therefore having a minimal quality-adjusted life year (QALY) impact.