Patents and Graduate Students

I'm about to sign over the rights to a patent application to the institution where I am doing my graduate studies. Does anyone have experience with this? Advice?
I'm pretty sure Bayman has experience with this. (?)
I fully understand that the institution will be the full and exclusive rights holder and financial beneficiary, however, I would still like my name on the patent as the inventor so that I may refer to it in the future in job applications. Is that the default? The paper work I have in front of me seems pretty vague about such details.

Bayblab Bio-Patent Watch

In this feature, I review newly-filed biotech patent applications published by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Comments are welcome. What do you think of the inventions? Are they useful? Commcerically viable? Should the patents be granted? Are they novel? Overly broad and restrictive of future research or individual rights? Will society reap rewards if the patent is granted and the technology is exploited?

This month we have:

"METHODS TO IDENTIFY POLYNUCLEOTIDE AND POLYPEPTIDE SEQUENCES WHICH MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS"
Application number: 11/781,818
Filing date: Sep 12, 2007
Inventor: Walter Messier
Assignee: EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS LLC

This invention describes a method for finding gene sequences responsible for the resistance of non-human primates, such as chimps, to diseases that afflict humans, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and neurodegeneration. The method basically involves comparing genetic sequences from human and non-human primate species to determine which human disease genes have undergone evolution in primates since our lineages diverged. Information about these genes would then be used to design novel therapeutics. As an example, the inventors propose to determine how the gene encoding 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase has evolved in chimps to mediate cancer resistance.

CE7-SPECIFIC REDIRECTED IMMUNE CELLS
Application number: 11/849,643
Filing date: Sep 4, 2007
Inventor: Michael JENSEN
Assignee: CITY OF HOPE
This application describes how to engineer cytotoxic (cell-killing) immune cells that target a protein antigen specifically expressed on the surface of neuroblastoma tumor cells. An antibody against the neuroblastoma antigen is fused to the zeta chain of the T-cell receptor. This chimeric receptor can then be introduced into T cells, natural killer cells, neutrophils and macrophages so that they express it on their surface and thereby recognize and kill neuroblastoma cells.

"PORTABLE NMR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAKING AND USING THE SAME"
Application number: 11/851,291
Filing date: Sep 6, 2007
Inventors: Chang-Min Park, Shriram Ramanathan, Patrick Morrow, Kenneth Cadien
Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION

This one's pretty self-explanatory. NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) technology is used in medicine for MRI imaging scans, as well as certain types of chemical analysis. This invention is describes a hand-held device that analyzes clinical DNA samples to perform disease diagnosis.

"TETRAPLOID WATERMELONS PRODUCING SMALL FRUITS"
Application number: 11/854,362
Filing date: Sep 12, 2007
Inventor: Xingping Zhang
Tetraploid watermelons are used to breed the triploid, seedless variety that we all love so much. This invention describes a way to make smaller, tastier tetraploid watermelon with a higher ratio of flesh-skin.


METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING IMMUNOLOGIC FOOD SENSITIVITY
Application number: 11/899,670
Filing date: Sep 7, 2007
Inventor: Kenneth D. Fine

This invention describes methods for diagnosing food allergies by determining whether the patient produces antibodies against commonly ingested foods. The approach is to collect fecal samples ( ie, "poop") and analyze it for the presence of antibodies against food antigens by ELISA. I would not want to be the poor sucker who works in this diagnostic lab:
"One method of concentrating the stool specimen is to spin the stool in a centrifuge to obtain a watery supernatant...Another method of concentrating the stool specimen, which is particularly used when the specimen is watery or diarrheal, is to freeze-dry or lyophilize the specimen to solid material and reconstituting it with water at a dry matter to water ratio equal to that of non-diarrheal stool".

Michael Crichton on Gene Patent Lunacy and Global Warming Myths

In this great conversation with the mind that brought you Jurassic Park, Crichton discusses why genetic patents need to be eliminated, why the global warming "consensus" and its mouthpiece Al Gore are wrong, and why real science has nothing to do with consensus anyway. Watch the video and if you think Crichton's got it wrong, I'd be interested in knowing why.

A Myriad of Genetic Fascism

We've talked about the potential evils of biotech patents on the Bayblab in the past, but I must confess I've been ignorant about just how far companies will go in their attempts to abuse the patent system. Based on genetic research it conducted on genetically isolated Mormon families in Utah, Myriad Genetics obtained patents for genetic testing of breast cancer susceptibility genes in 2000-2001. The Cancer Cancer Society describes how Myriad is attempting to abuse its patent rights:

"In July 2001 Myriad issued a cease and desist notice in Canada instructing provincial governments to stop using any test other than BRCAnalysis to detect genetic abnormalities on the BRCA1 and 2 genes. Myriad’s patents give the company the exclusive right to perform diagnostic testing for BRCA 1 and 2 abnormalities. The patents have enabled Myriad to demand that all patient samples be sent to the company’s headquarters in Utah for analysis, which increases the cost associated with the test tremendously. The response of provinces to Myriad’s order has varied. The provinces that continue using tests other than BRCAnalysis risk facing legal action by Myriad."

Excuse me? A patent gives you the right to bar others from extracting revenues using the technology or method in question (ie a genetic test). It is obviously not a title deed granting the holder ownership of a piece of every human being's genome in every country where the patent is held. I think it's pretty obvious that individuals should have the right to use any means they choose to learn about their own genome.

Hopefully Canadian governments will follow through with the Canadian Cancer Society's demands and limit this ridiculous attempt by Myriad to commandeer the Canadian Patent System and plunder Canadian genomes. Maybe we also need to add explicit protection of personal genetic information to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

License the Technology Before You Play With Your Cat, Travel at Lightspeed

That's right. If you've ever teased your cat with a laser pointer or traveled across galaxies for money, you may just get sued.

Govern yourself accordingly.

Method of exercising a cat

US Patent Issued on August 22, 1995
No. 144473 filed on 1993-11-02

Abstract

A method for inducing cats to exercise consists of directing a beam of invisible light produced by a hand-held laser apparatus onto the floor or wall or other opaque surface in the vicinity of the cat, then moving the laser so as to cause the bright pattern of light to move in an irregular way fascinating to cats, and to any other animal with a chase instinct.

Of course that's not nearly as ridiculous as the anti-gravity spaceship patent:

United States Patent	6,960,975
Volfson	November 1, 2005

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Space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary vacuum state

Abstract

A space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary vacuum state is provided comprising a hollow superconductive shield, an inner shield, a power source, a support structure, upper and lower means for generating an electromagnetic field, and a flux modulation controller. A cooled hollow superconductive shield is energized by an electromagnetic field resulting in the quantized vortices of lattice ions projecting a gravitomagnetic field that forms a spacetime curvature anomaly outside the space vehicle. The spacetime curvature imbalance, the spacetime curvature being the same as gravity, provides for the space vehicle's propulsion. The space vehicle, surrounded by the spacetime anomaly, may move at a speed approaching the light-speed characteristic for the modified locale.

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Inventors:	Volfson; Boris (Huntington, IN)
Appl. No.:	11/079,670
Filed:	March 14, 2005