William K. Merkel Ph.D., J.D. and Lynn L. Janulis Ph.D., J.D., patent attorneys from Marshall, Gerstein and Borun, LLP, will discuss options to effectively secure intellectual property associated with academic drug discovery and diagnostics projects. Topics such as what is currently patentable under US and international patent law with a focus on therapeutics (small molecules, biologicals, natural products, clinical diagnostics and research tools) will be discussed. Please come ready to learn and ask questions.

Hosted by U-M Center for the Discovery of New Medicines (CDNM) and U-M Office of Tech Transfer (OTT) and moderated by Ed Pagani, OTT Associate Director, University of Michigan.

Lynn Janulis, Ph.D., J.D.

Dr. Janulis concentrates her practice on securing patent rights in the life science technologies. She has extensive knowledge in the fields of biotechnology, including molecular biology, virology, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, and pharmaceuticals. Among her specific areas of interest are reproductive biology, developmental and animal biology, cancer, vaccines, stem cell technologies, antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions, recombinant organisms and expression systems, recombinant proteins and methods of production and use, transgenic animals, assays and diagnostic methods, and methods of treatment of various diseases and disorders.

Dr. Janulis received her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School. She earned her Ph.D. in molecular and reproductive endocrinology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Urology at Northwestern University Medical School prior to joining the Firm.


William K Merkel, PhD., J.D.

Biotechnology clients benefiting from Dr. Merkel’s technical and legal experience have ranged from industry leaders to start-up enterprises. He has experience in medical diagnostics and therapeutics, agricultural and pharmaceutical products and methods, genomics, and medical and agricultural biotechnology. In addition to providing prosecution and litigation services in these areas, he develops intellectual property strategies and assists clients with validity, infringement and patentability opinions.

Dr. Merkel’s contributions to the field of biotechnology include graduate-level research that has contributed to our understanding of the molecular genetics of vitamin biosynthesis in prokaryotes. As a Research Fellow, he discovered the Pan Operon, revealing the organization of genes involved in pantothenate biosynthesis, as reported in the peer-reviewed literature. This research experience and advanced training equip him with the ability to thoroughly understand the complex scientific technologies of his clients.

Dr. Merkel received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He earned a B.A. in economics and psychology from Knox College.


Ed Pagani, Ph.D. Associate Director, Health Technologies

Ed Pagani, PhD, works with faculty and researchers at the University of Michigan School of Medicine to promote, protect and commercialize new discoveries. Ed gained extensive licensing and R&D experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries as Assistant Director, Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology, at Sterling Winthrop; Senior Director, Strategic Alliance at Pfizer; and Vice President, Molecular Diagnostics, at Beckman Coulter. Immediately prior to joining the Office of Technology Transfer, Ed held the position of CEO, North America at LGC, LTD, a private, equity-backed company headquartered in London, England.

Ed holds an A.B. degree from Columbia University, a Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and completed 3 years of post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School/Brigham & Women’s Hospital