Keynote Speakers
Ronald M. Evans
Professor and DirectorGene Expression Laboratory
Ronald M. Evans, a professor in the Gene Expression Laboratory, is the March of Dimes Chair in Developmental and Molecular Biology. Evans is an authority on hormones, both their normal activities and their roles in disease. A major achievement in Evans' lab was the discovery of a large family of molecules, named receptors, that respond to various steroid hormones, Vitamin A and thyroid hormones. These hormones help control sugar, salt, calcium and fat metabolism; thus, they impact on our daily health as well as treatment of disease. The receptors Evans discovered are primary targets in the treatment of breast cancer, prostate cancer and leukemia, as well as osteoporosis and asthma. In addition, Evans' studies led to a new hormone that appears to be the molecular trigger controlling the formation of fat cells. This hormone and its chemical derivatives represent one of the newest and most important advances in understanding problems arising from excess weight and obesity and the potential treatment of adult onset diabetes (Type II diabetes).
Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Principal Deputy DirectorNational Institutes of Health
Dr. Tabak was appointed as the principal deputy director of the NIH on August 23, 2010. Previously he served as acting principal deputy director of the NIH from November 13, 2008 through August 14, 2009. Named as the director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) in September 2000, he held that post through August 2010.
Dr. Tabak has served as co-chair of several trans-NIH activities, including the NIH-wide initiative to enhance peer-review. While serving as the NIH acting deputy director in 2009, Dr. Tabak played a leadership role in coordinating the agency’s response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Prior to joining NIH, Dr. Tabak was the senior associate dean for research and professor of dentistry and biochemistry & biophysics in the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester in New York. A former NIH MERIT recipient, Dr. Tabak’s major research focus has been on glycoprotein biosynthesis and function. He continues to lead an active research laboratory within the NIH intramural program in addition to his administrative duties.
Dr. Tabak is a fellow of the AAAS and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he received his undergraduate degree from City College of the City University of New York, his D.D.S. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Buffalo.
Jerry Tessendorf
Professor of Visual ComputingDirector of the Digital Production Arts Program School of Computing Clemson University
Jerry Tessendorf is a Professor of Visual Computing, and Director of the Digital Production Arts program at Clemson University. His research is in fluid dynamics, radiative transfer, and production workflow for feature films. He has developed new movie production techniques and software for 15 years at Rhythm & Hues and Cinesite Digital Studios, and in 2008 received an Academy Award for Technical Achievement. He has a Ph.D. in physics from Brown University.
Bernard Knight
General CounselUS Patent and Trademark Office
Bernard Knight was sworn-in as the USPTO’s General Counsel on April 19, 2010. As USPTO’s General Counsel, Mr. Knight is the principal legal advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. He supervises the provision of legal advice and court representation on intellectual property and administrative matters for the agency.
He is the recipient of two Department of the Treasury’s “Distinguished Service Awards." One was awarded by Secretary Henry M. Paulson in 2009 for extraordinary service in establishing the Troubled Asset Relief Program and for his key managerial role in revitalizing the Treasury Legal Division and the second was awarded by Secretary Timothy F. Geithner in 2010 for his work as Acting General Counsel leading the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the General Counsel during the administration’s financial crisis response.
Speech topic by Bernard Knight
(Time: Aug 10, Friday, 1:45pm - 2:45pm)
미국 특허청의 버나드 나이트 수석 변호사의 미국 발명법 주제 발표는, 작년에 중요 법개정을 거친 미국 특허 제도와 실무에 관한 안건들을 입법에 중요한 역할을 행사한 특허청 수석 변호사의 설명에 의해 심도있게 이해할 수 있는 좋은 기회입니다. 미국 발명법은 특허를 둘러싼 국제 경제 환경 변화를 반영하기 위해 미국 특허 제도 창립이래 고수해온 선발명주의를 폐지하고 세계 대다수의 나라가 채택하는 선원주의로 특허 제도의 근간을 바꾸었습니다. 개정된 법에 따라, 주로 대학과 venture 기업의 발명자들은 선발명주의의 장점인 선발명의 입증에 의한 특허권 획득의 기회가 없어지므로, 특허 출원을 최대한 서둘러야 합니다. 또한 주로 대기업의 발명자들은 비슷한 시기에 출원된 출원들 사이에 출원일과 무관하게 특허받을 권리의 선후를 결정해주는 저촉심사 과정이 폐지되는 것을 염두에 두어 특허 출원을 서두름과 동시에, 출원서의 내용에 만전을 기하여야 합니다. 개정법은 또한 과잉 소송 및 심사 적체의 문제를 개선하기 위해 특허 허여후 이의신청 과정을 채택하는 등 많은 중요한 변화를 포함하고 있습니다. 발명의 특허에 의한 보호는 과학기술발전의 핵심적 수단이며, 많은 참여를 바랍니다.
The talk by Mr. Bernard Knight, USPTO's General Counsel for US Invents Acts and Patents is a great opportunity for in-depth understanding about US patent law and practice, which underwent major changes last year, by explanation of USPTO General Counsel who materially influenced the legislation. In order to reflect intenational economy environment change about patent system, US Invents Act repealed First-to-Invent principle, to which it adhered since its establishment, and switched to First-to-File principle. Under the changed law, inventors of universities and venture businesses must file patent applications as fast as possible because the advantage of First-to-Invent to obtain patent by proving earlier invention no longer exists. Also, inventors of enterprises must expedite patent application filing and make double assurance of patent disclosure because interference proceedings that resolves priority contests among near-simultaneous applicants is repealed. The revised law also includes many important changes including post-grant review to relieve problems of excessive patent litigations and examination backlog. Attending the session is encourage since Patent protection of inventions is the essential means for developing science and technology.
Jay H. Chung, Ph.D.
President and CEOTayco Engineering, Inc.
Dr. Jay Chung has earned his fame in aerospace industry for his contributions to NASA space exploration programs. After the s pace shuttle Challenger incident in January 1986, Dr. Chung developed a joint protection heating system for the solid rocket booster to keep the o-rings warm. NASA made it mandatory to install Dr. Chung’s system every time shuttle launches since 1987. His cryogenic nerve systems have been used for International Space Station and Mars Rovers that made the “Spirit” and “Opportunity” landing succ essful in January 2004.
Again in 2005, Dr. Chung’s concept for the Liquid Oxygen Feed line Anti-icing system of the Space Shuttle external tank was chos en by NASA to make Discovery launch possible on July 26, 2005. Dr. Chung is called “Miracle Maker” among his colleagues and NASA man agers. Dr. Chung joined Tayco Engineering, Inc. in 1978.
Dr. Chung graduated from the Seoul National University in 1968, then earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine. He is married to Sue since 1971, and they have two daughters; Julie is an American diplomat working for the U.S. State Department, and Connie is a News Producer at KCBS, a major radio station in San Francisco.