IP & Technology Blog

“Three-person embryo” law passedPosted on Feb 09, 2015 by Dr. Julie Nixon  | Tags: Mitochondria, genetics, ethics  | 0 CommentsLast week MPs voted in favour of making the UK the first country in the world to permit IVF embryos to be created using DNA from three different people to help prevent mitochondrial diseases . A majority in the the House of Commons voted to approve an amendment to the 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act which will allow a mother’s mitochondrial DNA to be replaced by  third party donor mitochondrial DNA . This in spite of some critics warning it was...

Strategies for Stratified Medicine: A Rosy Outlook for Scotland’s Wealth & HealthPosted on Oct 03, 2012 by Dr. Julie Nixon  | 0 CommentsThis blogger attended an excellent event earlier this week at Edinburgh’s BioQuarter for their inaugural networking event. A distinguished panel of scientists led the discussion on personalised/stratified medicine.Inherited genetic differences affect the body’s response to medication. Some drugs may cause side effects in one individual but not in another. Stratified medicine means looking at the genetic makeup of large groups in the population, then from this information scientists hope to be able to predict which drugs are likely to...

IP Ownership and the Valley of DeathPosted on Aug 16, 2012 by Dr. Julie Nixon  | 0 CommentsThere is a clear push on to translate the academic research that goes on in our fine institutions into something commercially viable. IP created is the key to success here, but we have to ask who actually owns the IP coming out of research? The very nature of academic research and different policies among different universities can make this confusing to say the least.On the 2nd of July oral evidence was given as part of the ongoing inquiry by the Commons Science and Technology...

Personalised Medicine And A Myriad Of ProblemsPosted on Aug 09, 2012 by Dr. Julie Nixon  | 0 CommentsUS genetic test maker 23andMe is asking the FDA to approve its personalized DNA test, a saliva sample DNA test kit, a move which could make 23andMe a leader in the field and regulate applications which provide information on genetic risk factors for disease. Essentially the saliva test should shed light on what genetic variations an individual has at particular genes.It is worth pondering then the potential minefield of IP problems that have arisen over gene patents and their possessive owners that could threaten...

Unofficial Olympic Advertising Sails Close To The WindPosted on Aug 01, 2012 by Dr. Julie Nixon  | 0 CommentsFollowing on from our last blog, it was with some amusement to read that a few prominent brands are doing their best to get in on the Olympic party while steering clear of the draconian brand protection of the Olympic sponsors.The managing director of Oddbins, Ayo Akintola, issued the following statement;“… thanks to LOCOG any business without the tens of millions of pounds required to join the cabal of multinational brand partners for the Games are reduced to the status of beggars on...