Selected Articles and Presentations
Links to Online Articles
Occasional blogging on current issues in biotechnology at BiotechBlog.com
For latest BayhDole25 publications, visit bayhdole25.org
"Labels Too Costly, Uneeded," published by the McClatchey-Tribune News Service in newspapers and online (28 June – 11 July 2012): reviews the arguments against new mandates for GM food labels including hidden costs and potential negative unanticipated consequences.
"Data Exclusivity Periods in the United States & Select International Markets," provides a concise 1-page review of Data Exclusivity and Marketing Exclusivity periods in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China and Canada. This paper was commissioned by Neuroglobe Ltd. which has kindly provided permission for distribution online.
"Effective Networking," Chapter 11, Biotechnology Entrepreneurship – From Science to Solutions, Ed. Michael L. Salgaller, PhD (October 2010) Published by thinkBiotech ©2010.
"Cheddarheads in Brussels," Forbes.com, February 17, 2009.
"Thailand's Trade-Off: All Guns, No Butter," The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint, September 25, 2008, reprinted by the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) PolicyBytes blog.
"Compulsory Licensing in Thailand: A License to Steal,"The American, July 7, 2008.
"Issue Brief on Technology Transfer: Impact and Importance for Indian Biotechnology Growth," Advances in Biopharmaceutical Technology in
India, BioPlan Associates, Inc. and Society for Industrial Microbiology (2008), pp 555 - 562, click here
"Enabling Environments for Technology Transfer," by Susan K. Finston,
Business 2010: A newsletter on business and biodiversity by the
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Vol. 2, Issue 3,
September 2007, pp. 24 - 27.
"Technology Transfer Snapshots from Middle-Income Countries: Creating
Socio-Economic Benefits through Innovation," by Susan K. Finston, is
available in Intellectual Property Management in Health and
Agricultural Innovation: A Handbook of Best Practices (eds A.
Krattiger, RT Mahoney, L Nelsen, et al). MIHR: Oxford, U.K. and PIPRA:
Davis, U.S.A, www.ipHandbook.org
"Data Exclusivity law brooks no delay," Hindu Business Line, July 28, 2006.
Latest BayhDole25 Blog Entries, click here
"Commentary: An American BioIndustry Alliance Perspective on CBD/TRIPS Issues in the Doha Round", Berkeley Electronic Press, December, 2005.
"Brazil's High-wire Act", November 30, 2005, Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) on-line editorial.
"Europe Starves Developing Nation Innovation", Financial Times, 10/25/2005, reprinted by the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI).
"The Relevance of Genetic Resources to the Pharmaceutical
Industry - The Industry Viewpoint", The Journal of World
Intellectual Property, March 2005, p. 141(abstract, first page only).
Presentations
"Understanding Data Exclusivity: The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCI Act)": OMICS International Conference and Exhibition on Biowaivers & Biosimilars, San Antonio, TX (September 10 - 12, 2012): EXploring the increasingly critical role of Data Exclusivity (DE) for innovative industry, and the mutual benefits for industry and society from certain, fixed exclusivity period that provide balanced incentives for innovation and access to medicines.
"Petroleum, PET & PlantBottle™ – Reducing Dependence on Oil Imports for Plastics," 2012 Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) International Convention, Boston, MA (June 20, 2012): The Coca-Cola Company's PlantBottle™ Panel was a highlight of the 2012 BIO International Convention. Susan K Finston moderated the interactive discussion of how the revolutionary PlantBottle™ technology – already in the market – reduces dependence on petroleum for production of bottles and other PET plastic materials, and what is coming next to improve sustainability for plastics needed by a wide range of consumer and industrial goods.
"TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION: WHOSE PROPERTY IS IT ANYWAY?", 2012 Founders Celebration, American University Washington College of Law, South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA), Washington, DC (April 11, 2012): As part of a Panel Discusion moderated by Nabila Isa-Odidi, Pracittioner in Residence, American University Washington College of Law, with speakers including Dominic Keating, Director of the USPTO IP Attache Program, Mr. Andrew Jaynes, Executive Director & General Counsel, IIPI and Susan Finston who highlighted benefits of the Indian Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) and its success in preventing issuance of weak patents based on prior art, at low marginal cost and without litigation.
"International Biotechnology: Emerging Trends in China and India," BIOWorld Webinar (October 27, 2011): Susan Finston presented latest developments and insights relating to Indian biotechnology, including areas with greatest potential for future growth, as part of the BIOWorld Webinar on International Biotechnology.
For more background on the BIOWorld program, click here.
"Genetic Resources & Traditional Knowledge: An Intellectual Property (IP) Primer," WIPO/US Summer School, Washington DC (August 20, 2010): Susan K. Finston provided an overview on the range of IPRs available to rightholders for inventions or products related to Genetic Resources (GR) and Traditional Knowledge (TK), as well as developments in multilateral negotiations, and the need for heightened capacity building efforts.
"BayhDole25 Slide Presentation on Commercialization of Research," NSF/UMDearborn MENA Workshop; International Research Collaborations for Women in Science and Technologyy, Abu Dhabi, UAE (May 3, 2010): Susan K. Finston presented case studies on MENA markets (Jordan, Morocco and the UAE) where governments have created enabling environments for technology transfer and commercialization of sicence.
"BayhDole25 Slide Presentation on the Golden Rice Case Study," OAS/WIPO/INPI Conference on Intellectual Property and Innovation as a Driver for Competitiveness of Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, (December 16, 2009): Susan K. Finston highlighted the positive role played by intellectual property in the form of patents, which facilitated the development of a Freedom to Operate (FTO) agreement, resulting in licenses for non-commercial development of Golden Rice in a number of African and Asian developing countries.
“Equity and Commercial Rights for Genetic Resources," Sponsored by the District of Columbia Bar Association and the Environmental Law Institute (ELI)(29 April 2009), Washington, D.C, featured a presentation by Susan Finston on key outstanding issues relating to the ongoing negotiation of operational text for the International Regime (IR) for Access and Benefit Sharing in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) likely to be presented to Ministers for adoption in October 2010.
Download the Transcript of Discussion
"Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, GIs and Trademarks; Approaches to ABS in India and the U.S.," George Washington University (GWU) Law School/Intellectual Property Owners (IPO) 6th Annual India IP Symposium, New Delhi, India (24 February 2009) was organized and moderated by Susan Finston and highlighted efforts by India and the United States to find common ground on protection of GR and TK both nationally and in international negotations in the CBD. 
"ABS: Real World Challenges, Real World Solutions", 9th Conference of the Parties, Convention on Biological Diversity, 28 May 2008, featuring capacity building and technology transfer experiences
by experts in ABS from Malaysia and Africa, and discussion of ABSA's ABS Negotiating Principles, with a focus on how ABS Stakeholders can
best work together to design effective ABS regimes.
"Potential Impact on Data Exclusivity: A Necessary Form of IP in a FOB World," CBI's Biosimilars and Follow-On Biologics, April 28 - 29, 2008, Arlington, VA.
IPI's Third Annual World Intellectual Property Day Event, Thursday, April 24, 2008, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) Headquarters Minuteman Memorial Building Minuteman Ballroom, 5th Floor One Constitution Ave NE, Washington DC 20002
IPI's half-day seminar has become an annual; Washington institution, attracting over 100 senior knowledge industry, U.S. government, and foreign officials from developed and developing countries. This year's World IP Day Event will include discussion of latest challenges and opportunities facing the digital media, the benefits (and costs) of IP protection for developing countries, and latest initiatives to protect patients and other consumers from dangerous counterfeit products. Susan K. Finston served as organizer for the event and also as Moderator of Panel Two focusing on costs and benefits of IP Protection to small and medium enterprises in developing and developed states, and on importance of capacity building and creation of an enabling environment for technology transfer.
Key Note Speaker, "What's Working, What's Not, and What's In the Future?", Ohio Valley Affiliates for Life Sciences (OVALS) 6th Annual Conference, Transformational Research: A Bridge to Building Economies, April 14 - 15, 2008, Louisville, Kentucky
To learn more about OVALS and the 6th Annual Conference, click here
IPI's Trade and the Race for the White House: Exploring the Candidates' Positions,
Murrow Room, National Press Club, Thursday, March 27, 2008, 9:00 am -- 11:00 am.
The issues of U.S. competitiveness in the global economy and how best to engage in multilateral and bilateral trade talks looms large in the ongoing Presidentrial race. Please join IPI for this important discussion, which will include trade advisors to the candidates, along with analysis on NAFTA and other trade agreements.
To download the latest Invitation and RSVP details, click here.
A full transcript for this event is available at the IPI website, at www.IPI.org
Seminar: Globalization of Clinical Research Trials: India -- The New Frontier
Dan Tel Aviv Hotel, February 10, 2008
India is fast becoming the land of opportunity for biomedical research and siting of global clinical trials. This well attended seminar, held on February 10, 2008 in Tel Aviv included a keynote address by Dr. Viojai Kumar, M.S., Excel Life Sciences (ELS) President and Chief Medical Officer. The half-day seminar explored the growing synergies between Israel's prodigious science capacities and India's burgeoning clinical research resources.
To download the conference agenda, click here.
Moderator of the American BioIndustry Alliance (ABIA)/Biotechnologu Industry Organization (BIO)/Croplife International (CLI) Industry Side-Event at ABS WG-6 in Geneva (21 January 2008) "Real World Experiences in ABS: Building Successful Systems by Learning from the Past." This well-attended panel disciussion provided insights into best practices to promote bio-pharmaceutical and agricultural innovation in developing countries, experiences on the ground from Brazilian and Indian perspectives, and doing business issues relating to plant breeding.
To download the ABIA/BIO/CLI industry flyer, click here.
Participation as a guest lecturer at the SIPO/PTO Second Annual Seminar on Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, and Folklore (30 - 31 October 2007, Chengdu, China), see the attached slides. To review the narrative which includes additional documentation and support, click here (English)or click here (Chinese)
Moderator of the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI)/Independent Policy Network (IPN) Briefing: "Benefits of Innovation for Public Health in Developing Countries: A Focus on Latin America," October 1, 2007, held inWashington D.C. This panel discussion provided perspectives on the main challenges to health care delivery in developing countries; the relationship between intellectual property rights and access to medicines, with evidence from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America; and encouraging value-added innovation and R&D programs in the developing world.
Participation in the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Side-Event on Technology Transfer at the upcoming Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Second Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention (WGRI-2), held in Paris at UNESCO headquarters (9 – 13 July 2007).
To download all of the presentations at the BIO Side-Event, click here.
For full information on the CBD WGRI-2 Meeting, click here.
Panelist at Event in Honor of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf, Co-sponsored by the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) and the Library of Congress, on June 26, 2007 in Washington DC. To see the event announdment and RSVP, click here.
"Mobilizing the Private Sector for Global Health Development" (May 2-4 2007, McLaughlin-Rotman Center (MRC) for Global Health, MaRS Discovery District, Toronto). For more information on the MRC conference, click here.
Participation in the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) World IP Day Event, April 26, 2007, in Washington DC. The IPI event ( 9 am to 2 pm), included Keynote Luncheon speaker Sam Pitroda, Chair of the Indian Knowledge Commission, and attracted more than 120 senior U.S. Government, Embassy, and industry officials. To download the list of featured speakers, click here.
India's Biodiversity Wealth: Global Perspectives and Benefits for India," Confederation of Indian Industry(CII)/American BioIndustry Alliance (ABIA) Industry Symposium, Mumbai, India (16 March 2007).
Intellectual Property Issues Associated with Genetic Resources and Natural Product Development," Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Annual Meeting, San Fransisco, CA (10 March 2007). (Providing an overview on the evolution of concerns by some developing countries relating to commercialization of genetic resource inventions.)
For more details on the AUTM Annual Meeting, click here
For details on the BIO-organized panel (D11), click here.
Asia Ascendant: Emerging Strengths in Biotechnology and Commercialization of Traditional Medicines," Health Care Panel Asia Business Conference 2007, Ross School of Business , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., February 2 - 3, 2007.
For more information on the Health Care Panel and other Asia Business Conference 2007 links, click here.
Participation in 2006 Ananda Chakrabary Lecture Series on Healthcare Innovation in India with presentations in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore (December 11 -- 16):
Dynamics of Innovation: Can 21st Century India Meet the Challenges?" Monday, December 11, 2006, 3:30 pm. To view invitation, click here
"Can Resurgent India Be the Global Leader in Knowledge Based Industries?" Thursday, December 14, 2006, 3:00 pm. To view invitation, click here
"India's Knowledge Industry on the March - Is This Sustainable?" Saturday, December 16, 2006, 11:30 am. To view invitation, click here.
"Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Biotechnology In China: The Importance of Patent Protection," International China BioPharmaceutical Symposium, Beijing, China (8 - 11 December).
For more information on the symposium, click here
"Innovation and Creation of IP as a Strategic Business Tool", Developing Collaborative Models for IT and Biotechnology in Developing Countries, Plenary Session of Hi-Tech Pune: Where IT Meets BT October 27 - 28, 2006, Le Meridien, Pune, India.
For more background on Hi-Tech Pune: Where IT Meets BT an event organized jointly by the Government of Maharashtra and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which reconized the life-time achievements of Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Director General, CSIR. Dr. Fakir Shand Kohli, former Deputy Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services, and Dr. C. S. Poonawalla, founder of India's largest biotech company the Serum Institute of India, click here
"Essential Building-blocks for Biopreneurs", Development of the Bio Bio Region by means of Science and Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Concepcion, September 27, 2006, Concepcion, Chile.
For more background on the University of Concepcion Seminar, organized by the Unidad de Desarrollo Tecnologico (UDT) (Technology Transfer Unit), click here
“IP and Related Factors Critical in an Enabling Environment for Technology Transfer and Development,” International Center on Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 1st International Conference on Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer in Life Sciences A North-South Dialogue, 12 - 14 June, 2006, Trieste, Italy.
To see additional resources from the ICGEB IP conference, click here
"Lessons Learned: Technology Transfer, Biotechnology Development and ABS", American BioIndustry Alliance (ABIA) Side Event, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Eighth Conference of the Parties, March 21, 2006, Curitiba, Brasil.
To see additional resources from this ABIA event, click here
"The Indian Pharma Industry, Regulations, and Insight", One-Day Symposium: India - An Insight Into The Changed Patent Regime & Protecting Your IP, Association of Patent Law Firms (APLF), Washington, DC , September 15, 2005.
For more backgound on the APLF India Seminar, click here
"A Tale of Two Sides of the Jordan River: IP Policy in Jordan and Israel", Technology Transfer Conference, Oxford, UK, September 4 - 9, 2005.