Speaker Information
Intellectual Property Speakers April 21st, 28th, & May 5th
Debra Anderson, J.D., is a patent lawyer with Meyer Unkovic & Scott LLP.is a patent lawyer with Meyer Unkovic & Scott LLP. She routinely handles all phases of domestic and foreign patent and trademark preparation and prosecution, and has worked with diverse technologies, including: polyurethane-based coatings, adhesives and resins; refractory metal tools for friction stir welding; tantalum sputtering targets; methods of regenerating neuronal tissue; vaccines, cancer immunotherapy; pharmaceuticals; thermal transfer printer inks; rubber compounding resins; polymer precursors to ceramic; thermal barrier coatings for turbine blades; and pyrolysis of waste materials. Ms. Anderson also assists clients in licensing of patented property, and additionally provides clients with patentability, patent infringement and validity opinions. Ms. Anderson received her J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan.
Chiara Orsini, M.B.A., J.D., is the Associate Director, Intellectual Property of the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Technology Management. Ms. Orsini graduated from the Katz Business School/University of Pittsburgh School of Law dual degree program, obtaining her M.B.A. and J.D. in 2000. She concluded her undergraduate work at Chatham University, receiving a B.S. in Chemistry. Prior to taking her position with the OTM, she practiced privately for five years in the intellectual property departments of two eminent Pittsburgh law firms.
Allen Black Jr., Ph.D., J.D., is a lawyer with Hirshman Law, LLC. Dr. Black focuses on the preparation and prosecution of patents in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical technology area. Prior to joining Hirshman Law, Dr. Black practiced patent law at some of the largest law firms in the U.S. where he handled patent prosecution matters for universities and companies ranging in size from small startups to Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Black is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where he teaches Biotechnology Law. Before practicing law, Dr. Black was an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine where he researched vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. Dr. Black received his postdoctoral training at the Magee Women’s Research Institute in the areas of mucosal immunology, molecular biology, and microbiology. He holds U.S. patents for an RNA-based drug technology. Dr. Black received his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (cum laude; Managing Editor, Journal of Law and Commerce), his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Newcastle, and his B.A. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (summa cum laude).
Jesse A. Hirshman, J.D., is the principal in Hirshman Law, LLC. Since opening his own firm in 2005, Mr. Hirshman's practice has primarily focused on patent drafting, U.S. and international patent prosecution, and counseling in the biomedical and chemical fields, including matters in the pharmaceutical, immunology, tissue engineering, stem cell, virology, vaccine, biological systems modeling, food sciences, polymer chemistry, biofuel and mechanical arts. Hirshman Law represents a range of clients, including university, medical center, corporate and individual clients. Previously, Mr. Hirshman practiced at a large, Pittsburgh-based firm and, before that, a mid-size boutique patent firm. His practice focused on patent prosecution and counseling in the biotech, medical, agricultural, chemical and pharmaceutical fields. Mr. Hirshman has his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, his M.S. from the University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, and his B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Florida - College of Agriculture.
David Oberdick, J.D., is a patent lawyer with Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP. He concentrates his practice on intellectual property law including: patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, software and technology licensing, computer law, e-commerce and related internet contracts, warranty/privacy issues, intellectual property litigation and related business transactions. Mr. Oberdick’s litigation experience in the intellectual property area has included infringement and misappropriation litigation, restrictive covenants, licensing disputes, injunction proceedings, and related breach of contract issues. Mr. Oberdick is a Faculty Advisor for the University of Pittsburgh School of Law’s Intellectual Property Moot Court and also provides assistance to the University’s small business clinic. Mr. Oberdick received his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh in Physics and Astronomy. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Drug Regulatory and Reimbursement Speaker, May 12th
Harold (Hank) Safferstein, M.B.A., Ph.D., J.D., who is Executive in Residence at the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse. Dr. Safferstein is also CEO of Cognition Therapeutics, Inc., a startup company focused on discovering and developing small molecule therapeutics targeting neurodegenerative diseases. Previously, Dr. Safferstein served as Vice President, Business Development for Omrix Biopharmaceuticals, a commercial-stage company that develops and markets biosurgical and passive immunotherapy products. Past positions include: Executive Vice President, Corporate Development for TransPharma Medical, a privately-held medical device company; Vice President, Business Development for Acorda Therapeutics, a CNS drug development and marketing company; various business development and marketing positions with Bristol-Myers Squibb; Director, Technology Transfer at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; and Cooperative Venture Manager for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Safferstein was an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellow and Fellow of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He received a B.A. in Biochemistry from Rutgers University, a Ph.D. in Human Anatomy and Neurobiology from the University of Louisville, a J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law, and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
Medical Device Regulatory Requirements Speaker, May 19th
Chad Coberly, M.B.A., J.D., who is Vice President of Clinical, Regulatory and Legal Affairs, Cohera Medical, Inc., a spinout company from the University of Pittsburgh that is developing a revolutionary line of surgical adhesives and wound management products. Mr. Coberly has more than 15 years of experience in the medical device industry, primarily in the areas of regulatory/clinical affairs, compliance, quality systems, intellectual property, business development, litigation and general legal affairs. Prior to joining Cohera, he served as the Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs for Zassi Medical Evolutions, where he led the regulatory and legal aspects of the worldwide commercialization and later the successful divestiture of a gastrointestinal catheter line. Mr. Coberly brings intellectual property experience from the law firm of Howard and Howard, and the Surgical Group of the Stryker Corporation where he held regulatory and legal related positions. He has published articles in “Food and Drug Law Institute” publications and has held board-level positions with medical device associations. Mr. Coberly holds a J.D. from Michigan State University and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University. He also has completed his M.B.A. studies at Boston University.