Pre-Conference Workshops
Parallel awareness for PATENT consideration (Nov 4th)
Workshop 1: Grant Workshop and Patent Considerations
Grantsmanship
Key components and strategy for a grant proposal will be presented and discussed
1. Grant Source Selection: Identifying a suitable funding source for the project.
2. Abstract Writing: Summarizing the project, including the problem to be addressed and its significance, relevant past work, hypothesis, methods, and expected outcomes.
3. Aims, Goals and Objectives: Establishing goals and associating each objective with desired results, providing a timeline for expectations. This section should be closely aligned with the abstract.
4. Introduction: Providing detailed significance of the project, historical context, the problem to be solved, and demonstrating expertise in the area.
5. Preliminary Results: Including relevant, unpublished material that supports the proposed hypothesis, derived from the researcher's own efforts.
6. Research Design and Methods: Detailing the approach to solving the problem, methods to be used, including statistical tools. Providing a milestone pathway for organization and progress reporting. Demonstrating expertise, especially in tackling difficult components of the process. Statistical tools for evaluation are crucial here.
7. Budget: Listing expenditures and justifications, such as personnel, supplies, computer time, etc., correlating them with the overall success of the grant. Including relevant personal information of team members and consultants involved in the project.
George B. Stefano
George B Stefano, Ph.D. DR h c (works demonstrating grant and patent expertise),
GBS has a distinguished career spanning over four decades, during which he served as the Principal Investigator and Program Director for grants from prestigious institutions such as the National Institute of Mental Health, National Science Foundation, Fogarty International Center, and National Institute on Drug Abuse. His expertise led him to organize and lead both national and international workshops on grantsmanship and patents for the above institutes.
Additionally, GBS held the position of Director at the Neuroscience Research Institute of SUNY, further contributing to the advancement of scientific research. Within the realm of administration, he played pivotal roles including Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Research Foundation of State University of New York (RFSUNY), Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of RFSUNY, and Chair of various committees such as Human Resources and Chair of Research at SUNYRF. He was also an active member of the patent committee.
With a keen entrepreneurial spirit, GBS holds approximately 10 patents, all of which have been successfully commercialized. Some of these patents were the result of collaborative efforts with commercial companies, where he assumed the role of Vice President for Research after leaving SUNY. GBS's contributions extend beyond patents, with an impressive publication record of over 500 peer-reviewed reports, a number of which included student co-authors, reflecting his commitment to mentorship and academic collaboration.
Workshop 2: Nitty / Gritty Patent Knowledge and Acquisition
Understanding patents is crucial in various fields, from technology and science to business and law. Patents serve as a cornerstone of innovation, offering creators legal protection for their inventions and ideas. By learning about patents, individuals can navigate intellectual property laws more effectively, ensuring they respect others' rights while safeguarding their own creations. Moreover, understanding patents can foster innovation by encouraging individuals and organizations to develop new ideas and technologies, knowing they have legal recourse to protect their investments. Additionally, familiarity with patents can aid in market research, helping businesses identify gaps in the market and potential areas for growth. Overall, learning about patents is essential for fostering innovation, protecting intellectual property, and driving economic development.
J. Patrick Finn III
J. Patrick Finn III, Ph.D., holds the role of managing principal at Fish & Richardson’s Munich office, concurrently managing a thriving intellectual property practice in Minneapolis. With a focus on patent preparation and prosecution, strategic portfolio management, patentability and freedom to operate analysis, inter parties review proceedings, opinions, due diligence investigations, licensing, and counseling, JPF's expertise spans across various sectors including medical biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and medical sciences.
His academic background is grounded in neuroscience, earning a Ph.D. from UCLA, which provides him with a deep understanding of the intricacies within the field. This academic foundation enriches his practical approach to intellectual property matters, enabling him to provide comprehensive and strategic counsel to his clients.
Fish & Richardson (FR), a premier global intellectual property law firm, is trusted by the world’s most innovative and influential companies. From patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution and counseling to our full-service litigation practice, we work together to provide our clients with exceptional advocacy across the life cycle of IP needs in the U.S. and around the world. FR employs over 365 lawyers with many having Ph.Ds, for example. The firm patented the Edison light bulb.