Biography

Whilst reading for a degree in Molecular Biology, Anna’s interests in the socio-legal aspects of biological research grew and led her to read for a MA in Biotechnology Law and Ethics. During her masters, Anna became fascinated with the interactions between scientists and the law, particularly relating to intellectual property rights. Developing this interest led Anna to apply for a PhD on the engagement of biological scientists with patent information, with a particular focus on stem cell scientists.

Anna is expecting to finish her PhD by autumn 2013, following an internship at the European Patent Office in Munich.

Scope of Research

Anna’s research considers the centrality of knowledge transfer to the economic and social contract rationale for the patent system. In the field of biological, and more specifically stem cell science, knowledge transfer through the patent system (via the medium of patent information) may inform downstream innovation and the development of therapeutic products. In order for this knowledge transfer to take place, end users, biological scientists in this case, must engage with patent information. Anna’s thesis employs a mixture of empirical methods to assess the level of engagement with patent information and investigates barriers to higher levels of engagement.

Research Areas

• The rationales for and history of intellectual property (specifically patents)
• Patenting of biological and stem cell science
• The funding, politics and sociology of science in public-research organisations

Research Centre

Sheffield Institute of Biotechnology, Law and Ethics

Teaching

Anna is a mentor on two undergraduate enterprise modules, Making Ideas Happen (USE 201 and USE 301).

External Activities

• Anna was awarded a competitive place on the World Intellectual Property Organization Summer School in Geneva, 2010.
• Anna will be working as a postgraduate intern within the IP Awareness Directorate of the European Patent Office in Munich from March-May 2013.

Organised meetings

Anna successfully applied for, along with 2 other PhD students, £400 to hold a Postgraduate Forum on Genetics and Society Regional Meeting. The meeting, ‘Governance and Intellectual Property of Biotechnology: Developed and Developing Countries Perspectives’, was held in March 2012, in Sheffield.

Oral Presentations

• “The engagement of biological scientists with patent information – an empirical study”, European Policy of Intellectual Property, 7th Annual Conference, September 2012, University of Leuven (Belgium)
• “Should anyone other than patent professionals engage directly with patent information?”, SCRIPT Conference 2012 ‘Law and Transformation’, June 2012, University of Edinburgh
• “IP- an anachronism? Biological scientists and patent information”, SCRIPT Conference 2012 ‘Law and Transformation’, June 2012, University of Edinburgh
• “Biological scientist’s use of patent information: early empirical findings”, PFGS Regional Meeting, March 2012, University of Sheffield
• “Stem Cell Scientists and the Patent System” May 2011, School of Law Postgraduate Research Day

Poster Presentations (*awarded best poster in conference)

• *“Peer to Patent Community Patent Review: Suitable for stem cell patents?”, 16th May 2010, School of Law Postgraduate Research Day
• *“Biological scientists and patent information – an empirical study” SCRIPT Conference 2012 ‘Law and Transformation’, 6th-8th June 2012, University of Edinburgh