Michael Mfarej, Ph.D.

Michael Mfarej, Ph.D., is a Technical Advisor in the firm’s Chemical Patent Prosecution group, where he focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications for domestic and international clients. His technical expertise spans biotechnology, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell and gene therapies, nucleic acid technologies, synthetic biologics, vaccines, drug manufacturing, and molecular diagnostics.

Prior to joining the firm, Dr. Mfarej was a Technology Specialist at an IP boutique law firm, where he built and managed patent portfolios for universities, research institutions, and biopharmaceutical companies. He led the prosecution of patent applications, including drafting applications and responding to Office Actions during prosecution and appeal stages, and worked with clients, foreign counsel, and other stakeholders on patent prosecution and portfolio strategy. His experience also includes patentability, freedom-to-operate, patent validity, and intellectual property landscape analyses. His practice involved protecting technologies including CRISPR/Cas and other nucleic acid editing systems, engineered cell and gene therapies, recombinant viral vectors, synthetic biologics, peptide and mRNA vaccines, lipid nanoparticles, biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes, and molecular diagnostics.

Dr. Mfarej earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology from Lehigh University, where his research focused on the DNA damage response, redox stress, and gene expression networks involved in cardiovascular development. His doctoral research resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and research grants.

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Education

• Lehigh University (Ph.D.)
  • Biochemistry
• The Pennsylvania State University (B.S.)
  • Biology (Concentration in Genetics & Developmental Biology)

Awards & Honors

• Lehigh University Marjorie Nemes Research Fellowship, Nov. 2019; Nov. 2020
• Lehigh University College of Arts & Sciences Research Grant, Apr. 2019; Sep. 2019
• Lehigh University College of Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Leadership Award, 2019
• Lehigh University College of Arts & Sciences Research Grant, 2019
• Outstanding Peer Tutor Award, The Pennsylvania State University, 2014
• Outstanding Biology Student Award, The Pennsylvania State University, 2014
• Frontiers in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Attendee, Howard University, 2013
• Academic Student Achievement Award, Penn State Lehigh Valley, 2013

Select Speaking Engagements

• “We Dream and the Market Decides,” The Pennsylvania State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 6, 2023, Center Valley, P.A.
• “Elucidating the Mechanism of Eco1 Reactivation in Response to DNA Damage,” American Society for Cell Biology, Dec. 8, 2019, Washington D.C.
• “Transcriptional Control of Eco1 in DNA Repair,” Northeastern Regional Yeast Meeting, University of Buffalo, June 20, 2019, Buffalo, N.Y.

Scientific Publications

• Mfarej, Hyland, Sanchez, et al. “Cohesin: an emerging master regulator at the heart of cardiac development,” Mol. Biol. Cell 2023, 34(5): E22-12-0557
• Mfarej & Skibbens “Genetically induced redox stress occurs in a yeast model for Roberts syndrome,” G3 2022, 12(2): jkac171
• Hyland, Mfarej, Hiotis, et al. “Impaired Cx43 gap junction endocytosis causes morphological and functional defects in zebrafish,” Mol. Biol. Cell 2021 32(20): E20-12-0797
• Mfarej & Skibbens “An ever-changing landscape in Roberts syndrome biology: implications for macromolecular damage,” PLoS Genet. 2020, 16(12): e1009219
• Mfarej & Skibbens “DNA damage induces Yap5-dependent transcription of ECO1/CTF7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae,” PLoS ONE 2020, 15(12): e0242968
• Adams, Anwar, Mfarej, et al. “Nutritional stress of cultured Vero cells causes altered growth and morphology as seen in neoplastic transformation,” AJUR 2015, 12(3): 63-75

Social Profile

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mfarej-ph-d-2b2251127/

Services

• U.S. Patent Procurement (Application Drafting & Prosecution)

Technologies

• Chemicals
• Life Sciences