Susanna C. Benn, Ph.D.

My focus

Much of my work focuses on patent prosecution for innovative technologies, the early phases of development and strategic management of clients’ patent portfolios including patent opinion work.

Patent Prosecution

I help clients obtain valuable patent protection of their innovative technologies in the U.S. and worldwide. In addition to my 10+ years of research experience in neurobiology and stem cells, I have deep experience in the areas of regenerative medicine, personalized medicine, diagnostic devices, pharmacogenomics, companion diagnostics, vaccines, cancer therapeutics, drug delivery systems, microfluidic devices, plasmonic nanoarrays and RNAi technology.

Patent Portfolio management

As a growing number of technologies are transferred from academic institutions to be commercialized by startups and biotech companies, I work closely with my clients in the strategic development and management of their IP portfolio and provide competitive IP analysis for start-up companies and academic institutions to ensure their patent portfolio aligns with their business goals and plans. My work as a team member in patent interferences and litigation cases enables me to assess patent portfolios from both a prosecutor’s and litigator’s perspective.

Opinion work

I provide guidance on Freedom to Operate, patentability and validity/infringement analysis for a variety of clients and perform due diligence for acquisitions and financing for angel investors and VC clients. I believe the importance of a strategically developed and managed global patent portfolio will have an instrumental impact on the successful commercialization of life science innovations going forward given the increasingly competitive nature of the industry.

Representative experience

Susanna received her Ph.D. from University College London, specializing in Neuroscience under the direction of Dr. Clifford Woolf at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Her research focused in the field of pain research and neuronal survival. Following completion of her graduate studies, Susanna joined the laboratory of Dr. Robert Brown at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, where her post-doctoral research focused on therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and ALS. Throughout her academic career, Susanna gained valuable knowledge and skill in the areas of neurodegenerative diseases, stem cells, and therapeutic drug delivery. Susanna has presented her work in numerous scientific journals and at international meetings, and has several review articles from her research. Prior to graduate school, Susanna was a research assistant at GlaxoSmithKline in the UK.

Looking ahead

I believe the importance of a strategically developed and managed global patent portfolio will have an instrumental impact on the successful commercialization of life science innovations going forward given the increasingly competitive nature of the industry.

Insights

• “Equity in Innovation: Overcoming Barriers to Women Engaging in Innovation and the Patent System,” Boston University Office of Research, Webinar, September 24, 2020