Sandra A. Sciascia-Zirger is a registered U.S. Patent Agent with extensive experience in biotechnology and life sciences intellectual property and is a member of the Life Sciences team in Ballard Spahr's Patents Group. Sandy has a strong scientific background and a deep understanding of molecular biology, genetics, autoimmunity, gene therapy, and immunology.
Sandy has worked closely with academic institutions, biotech startups, and pharmaceutical companies to draft and prosecute patent applications, conduct freedom-to-operate and patentability analyses, and support IP strategy aligned with business goals. Her technical expertise spans therapeutic platforms including CRISPR and other genome-editing technologies, recombinant proteins, nucleic acid-based therapeutics, antibody engineering, gene therapy, and molecular diagnostics.
Services
Professional Highlights
Recognition & Accomplishments
USPTO, Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate, 2022
Publications
Co-author, "Novel Gene Therapeutic Approaches to Brain Cancer," Gene Therapy For Neurological Disorders, Chapter 13, Published By Taylor & Francis Group, 2006
Co-author, "Immunization of Nonautoimmune Mice with DNA Binding Domains Of The Largest Subunit Of RNA Polymerase I Results In Production of Anti-Dsdna and Anti-Sm/RNP Antibodies," Autoimmunity, February 2007
Co-author, "Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Thymidine Kinase Sequence Fused to the Lacz Gene Increases Levels of {Beta}-Galactosidase Activity per Genome of High-Capacity but Not First-Generation Adenoviral Vectors In Vitro and In Vivo," Journal Of Virology, February 2009
Credentials
Education
University of Kansas (Ph.D. 2003, molecular genetics)
Course Instructor, "Genetics Laboratory"
University of Montevallo (B.Sc. 1997, biology, cum laude)
Admissions
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office