Dean of the UNLV College of Science to Speak

Dr. Tim Porter, Dean of the College of Science is speaking at NevBio luncheon on October 7th at McCormick & Schmicks. His dual topics are “Chemical & Biological Sensing & The Nevada Bioscience Roadmap”. Check-in is at 11:30 am and lunch & presentation will be at noon. The cost is $30.

Dr. Porter received his Ph.D. in physics from Arizona State University in 1988. In 1988, he became a Professor at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. In 22 years at NAU, Dr. Porter served as a faculty member, Department Chair, and Director of the Growing Biotechnology Initiative. He has published over 80 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, and holds 10 U.S. and international patents related to his work in the area of chemical and biological microsensors. Other research interests include low energy ion scattering, interaction of bio-molecules with layered silicates, and nano-structured materials for the storage of electrical energy.

Please register here for the luncheon

Two Patent Lawyers at NevBio Mtg at Nevada Cancer Institute

William Needle, Esq. from the Atlanta office of Ballard Spahr and Dr. Gibson Lanier, Esq. spoke at the August 5th meeting at the Nevada Cancer Institute. Needle has a BS in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a JD from Emory and has practiced for over 39 years in patents and trademarks. Dr. Gibson Lanier served as a post-doctoral fellow at the Emory Vaccine Center. He earned his JD from Georgia State University and practices at Ballard Spahr in Atlanta.

Mr. Needle has served as lead counsel in numerous intellectual property cases such as the Cabbage Patch Kids® dolls as well as patent infringement actions involving diverse technologies. Dr. Lanier has applied his knowledge to inventions associated with molecular biology, infectious disease, immunological responses, cancer treatments, stem cells, and vaccine development.

Needle and Lanier spoke for 90 minutes about changes in the patent law and current cases. Their primary emphasis was to patent ideas before they are published. If a discovery is not patented, there is no protection for the investors. The investors are the ones that commercialize the ideas. Both attorneys have seen discoveries that are not followed up because the researcher lost their opportunity to file a patent. This is a good point for biotechnology and science researchers.

The Behind-The-Scenes Story of the Hepatitis C Outbreak in Nevada

NevBio's July 23rd meeting featured Tom Lorentzen, the former Regional Director of Health & Human Services. Mr. Lorentzen flew to Las Vegas to monitor the hepatitis outbreak for Secretary Leavitt of Health & Human Services. Lorentzen praised the Clark County Public Health Department for identifying that a problem existed in Las Vegas. The department's data normally showed two or three cases a month. All of sudden, the department noticed six reported cases. The department took quick action to find the cause of the outbreak. They sent out health inspectors to locate the problem. One noticed that vials were being reused at the Endoscopy clinic. Working with the city of Las Vegas, they closed the clinic. Although the hepatitis C outbreak gave Las Vegas a black eye for its health care, it was the leadership in the community that averted a much wider problem. A number of biotech companies are searching for cures for hepatitis C.