News and Events: The F.I.R.E. Series
The F.I.R.E. (For Inventors, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs) Series is a regular lecture series designed to educate the university community about the many aspects of Technology Transfer, what it means to be an inventor, what every researcher should know in order to protect potential intellectual property rights, and the complexities of starting a business.
Beginning in September of 2012 , the sessions will be held at 12:00 PM on the second Tuesday of each month. Our meeting locations may vary, depending on room availability and anticipated audience size. Please check the calendar listing for each event for location details.
The F.I.R.E. Series welcomes your questions, comments, or suggestions for future topics. For more information, or to sound off, please contact David Englert via this link, or at 585.276.6615. Or sign up for the OTT_F.I.R.E. Series ListServ Mailing List to voice your opinion.
Future Topics Are Scheduled to Include:
The F.I.R.E. Series will return in September.
Past Topics Have Included:
F.I.R.E. Series LXXXI: "Find Funnding in Your Freezer and Move Science Forward: The Investigator's Annexe" (11 June 2013, Robert Bondaryk presenting)
Click here to view the slide deck
Click here to view video of presentation
Click here to view program description
F.I.R.E. Series LXXX: "IP Issues in Transactions" (14 May 2013, Ralph Loren presenting)
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Click here to view video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXXIX: "Corning and University Technology Collaborations" (9 April 2013, Charles Philip presenting)
F.I.R.E. Series LXXVIII: "The Keys to Bank Financing for Start-Up and Early-Stage Businesses - Debt as a Supplement to Venture Capital Funding" (12 March 2013, Carl Luger, Timothy Brown, & Jacqueline Lavoie presenting)
Click here to view the slide deck
Click here to view video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXXVII: "Patent Laws Are Changing -- Are You Prepared?" (12 February 2013, Kathryn Doyle, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXXVI: "The Future of Personalized Medicine Patents" (8 January 2013, Carissa Childs, Ph.D., J.D. and Ted Merkel, J.D. presenting)
F.I.R.E. Series LXXV: "The Center for Medical Technology & Innovation: a Pathway from Concept to Commercialization in Developing New Medical Technologies" (Greg Gdowski, Ph.D. presenting)
F.I.R.E. Series LXXIV: "Drafting a Strong Provisional Patent Application" (13 November 2012, Ranjana Kadle, Ph.D., J.D. presenting).
F.I.R.E. Series LXXIII: "Crossing the Development Gap" (9 October 2012, Michael Rusnak and Mikael Totterman presenting).
F.I.R.E. Series LXXII: "The Importance of MTAs and CDAs in Shared Research: All You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask" (11 September 2012, Gila Balman and Aeisha Salem presenting).
Click here to view slide deck
Click here to view the video of the presentationClick here to access the CDA Checklist
Click here to access the MTA Checklist (outgoing materials)
Click here to access the MTA Checklist (incoming materials)
F.I.R.E. Series LXXI: "Small Business and University Strategies for the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act" (10 May 2012, Gibson Lanier, Ph.D., J.D. and David Perryman, J.D. presenting).
Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXX: "Positive and Negative Data in Patent Procurement — When to Provide It and Why It Matters" (12 April 2012, Tina McKeon, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXIX: "Patenting Biomarkers and Diagnostic Methods" (8 March 2012, Neil Shull, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXVIII: "TEN and HTR—Entrepreneur Programs and Services in 2012" (9 February 2012, Jean Kase and Mike Riedlinger presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXVII: "Reasons to File a Patent on Your Research Discovery"
(12 January 2012, Joseph Noto, Esq. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXVI: "The Basics of the Technology Transfer Process"
(8 December
2011, Marjorie D. Hunter, Esq. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXV: "Patenting Basics—the America Invents Act"
(3 November 2011, J. Gibson Lanier III, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXIV: "What Is an Invention?"
(13 October 2011, Kathryn Doyle, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXIII: "
First to Invent vs. First to File:
The Importance of Keeping a Proper Laboratory Notebook"
(8 September 2011, Carissa Childs, Ph.D., J.D. and Edwin Merkel, J.D. presenting)
Click here to view the slide deck
Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXII: "Building to Qualify for Outside Investors"
(9 June 2011, Martin Babinec presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LXI: "Intellectual Property Protection Beyond Patents — Trademarks and Copyrights"
(12 May 2011, Michael Brown, Esq. presenting)
F.I.R.E. Series LX: "Inequitable Conduct-Therasense, Inc. v. Beckton, Dickinson & Co."
(14 April 2011, Gibson Lanier, Ph.D., Esq. presenting)
Click here to view the slideshow
Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LIX: "The Technology Development Fund"
(10 March 2011, Michael Rusnak presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LVIII: "Recent Trends at the U.S. Patent Office — Patent Strategies to Improve Your Outcome"
(10 February 2011, Carissa Childs, Ph.D., Esq. and Edwin Merkel, Esq. presenting)
Click here to view the slideshow
Click here to view the video of the presentation
F.I.R.E. Series LVII: "You're Not Alone—How High Tech Rochester and Excell Partners Can Help Your Business Thrive"
(13 January 2011, Theresa Mazzullo and James Senall presenting)
Click here to view the Excell Partners slideshow
Click here to view the HTR slideshow
Click here to view the video of the presentationPlease note that the Excell Partners slideshow was created in Office 2007. An earlier version is available upon request, but some of the features of the slides may be lost. Click here to request the slideshow in Office 2003 format.
- F.I.R.E. Series LVI: "Where the Rubber Hits the Road—Two University Start Ups Share Their Experiences"
(9 December 2010, Dina Markowitz, Ph.D. and Lewis Rothberg, Ph.D. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide shows
Click here to view the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. LV: "So You Want to Make a Deal...? Partnering and Licensing with Bio/Pharma and Others"
(11 November 2010, Bruce Pratt presenting)
A special Thank You to the Clinical & Translational Science Institute and the Office of Research Alliances for making Dr. Pratt's visit possible!
Click here for a copy of the slide show (coming soon)
Click here to view the video of the presentation (coming soon)
- F.I.R.E. LIV: "When and How to Form a Business: Practical Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls"
(14 October 2010, Daniel Kinel, Esq. presenting)
Return to top of pageClick here for a copy of the slide show
Click here to view the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. LIII: "Using NCI SBIR/STTR Funding for Commercialization of Innovative Medical Technology"
(9 September 2010, David Beylin presenting)
We are awaiting approval to post the presentation.
- F.I.R.E. LII: "Weird and Wonderful Patents"
(10 June 2010, Mike Brown, Esq. presenting)Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here to view the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. LI: "Counter-Intuitive Employment Law Traps"
(13 May 2010, Paul Keneally, Esq. presenting)
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- F.I.R.E. L: "From Prototype to Product: Commercialization and Regulatory Considerations for Medical Devices"
(8 April 2010, Robert M. Ruppenthall presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. XLIX: "Patenting the Fruits of Collaborative Research"
(11 March 2010, Carissa Childs, Ph.D. and Edwin Merkel, Esq. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here to view the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. XLVIII: "Venture Capital—How Does It Work? And How Can I Get a VC to Invest in My Business?"
(10 February 2010, Bela Musits presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. XLVII: "Understanding Capital Structure"
(14 January 2010, Steven Gersz, Esq. presenting)
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Click here to view the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. XLVI: "Fact or Fiction: Top Ten Quiz About Technology Transfer"
(8 December 2009, Ralph Kuncl, M.D., Ph.D. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here to view the video of the presentation
Please note that an error occurs at approximately 23:30 in this presentation. Dr. Kuncl refers to the institutions listed on the slide as the top ten royalty revenue earners for that time period. What the slide actually shows are sixteen peer institutions that had been selected for a previous benchmarking exercise. No misrepresentation was intended. We inadvertently inserted the incorrect slide into the final presentation.
- F.I.R.E. XLV: "Giving Away the Farm—Why Material Transfer Agreements Matter in a University Setting"
(12 November 2009, L. Gibson Lanier, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. XLIV: "The State of Venture Capital in New York"
(8 October 2009, William Greener, J.D. presenting)
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Click here for the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. XLIII: "Tips for Cost-Effective Patent Prosecution"
(10 September 2009, Mary An Merchant, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
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Click here for the video of the presentation
- F.I.R.E. XLII: "Cleanteach Innovation: Patent Trends and the Federal Stimulus in New York State"
(9 July 2009, Christopher B. Miller presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for the slides in a downloadable format
- F.I.R.E. XLI: "Managing Faculty Consulting Arrangements at the University of Rochester"
(11 June 2009, Gail Norris, Esq. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for the Video of the presentationThe font on slide 11 made the link to the Office of Research and Project Administration resources difficult to view. As promised, here is that link:
http://www.rochester.edu/ORPA/policies/ConsultingGuidance.pdf
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
A limited number of session hand-outs are now available. If you would like to have one, click here. Place "FIRE Series #40 Handouts" in the subject line.
- F.I.R.E. XXXIX: "An Engine of Invention: the University as a Hub of Innovation and Catalyst for Regional Economic Growth"
(9 April 2009, Andrew K. Gonsalves, J.D. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXXVIII: "Success at the Patent Office: Strategies to Consider before You File Your Patent Application"
(12 March 2009, Ted Merkel, J.D. and Carissa Childs, Ph.D. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXXVII: "Staying in the Know—Prior Art Searches"
(12 February 2009, Katherine McGuire, Esq. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
A limited number of session hand-outs are still available. If you would like to have one, click here. Place "FIRE Series #37 Handouts" in the subject line.
- F.I.R.E. XXXVI: "Structuring and Financing Your New Business"
(8 January 2009, J. William Reeves, Esq., Lawrence A. Kallaur, Esq., and Jason M. Kiefer, Esq. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the first slide show (Structuring Your New Business)
Click here for a copy of the second slide show (Funding Your New Business)
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXXV: "Navigating Technology Transfer IV—When Good Science Makes a Good Commercial Product—and When It Doesn't"
(11 December 2008, Gail Norris, J.D. and Rick Richmond, MBA, MS. presenting)
- F.I.R.E. XXXIV:
When Is a Process a Process? Examining the Implications of In re Bilski
(13 November 2008, David Huizenga, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
* * * * *
Update: The United States Supreme Court agreed in June to review the Federal Circuit Court case discussed in this presentation. It is expected to appear on the Court's docket when the new session begins in October 2009.
* * * * *
Update: In their decision, handed down on 28 June 2010, the Supreme Court rejected the machine-or-transformation test as the sole test of process patent eligibility based on an interpretation of the language of §101. The majority, however, had high praise for the Federal Circuit opinions, advising that "[s]tudents of patent law would be well advised to study these scholarly opinions." ( wikipedia.org)
- F.I.R.E. XXXIII: Are You Ready to Be an Entrepreneur?
(9 October 2008, Roger O'Brien, Ph.D. presenting)Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXXII: Public DisclosureWhat It Is and What It Isntand How to
Mitigate an Untimely or Unintentional Disclosure
(11 September 2008, Christopher Blank, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
For this presentation, we eschewed the traditional slide show.
Click here for a copy of the handout on Confidentiality Agreements we used.
Unfortunately, media services were unavailable for this presentation.
- F.I.R.E. XXXI: "The Lifecycle of a Biotech/Pharma Start-Up Company"
(10 June 2008, David Huizenga, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXX: "Patenting Pathways"
(8 May 2008, Kathryn Doyle, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXIX: "Material Transfer Agreements—The Most Important Documents Youve
Never Read"
(10 April 2008, Anne Corriveau, J.D. & Tammie Martin presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slide show
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXVIII: "Bringing Technological Innovation to Market—Strategies and
Resources for Bridging the Gap between Innovation and Commercialization; Partnerships, Protection, and
Profitability"
(13 March 2008, Jon Scahill, John Nuber, & Tim Scahill presenting)
- F.I.R.E. XXVII: "Anyone Could Have Invented That! A Matter of Common Sense?"
(14 February 2008, Tina McKeon, Ph.D., J.D. presenting)
- F.I.R.E. XXVI: "First to Invent vs. First to File—the Important Role
a Proper Laboratory Notebook Can Play"
(10 January 2008, Carissa R. Childs, Ph.D. and Edwin V. Merkel, J.D., presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slideshow
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXV: "Navigating Technology Transfer III— What Happens Now?—Tech
Transfer 101: What You Always Wanted to Know About the Technology Transfer Process (but Were Afraid to Ask)"
(13 December 2007, Harl R. Tolbert, presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slideshow
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXIV: "Patent Reform Legislation and How to Respond to It"
(15 November 2007, Christopher B. Miller, presenting)
Click here for a copy of the slideshow
Click here for Video on Demand
- F.I.R.E. XXIII: "The Technology Commercialization Team—Tech Commercialization—
We Can Help!"
(11 October 2007, Theresa Mazzullo and Paul Wetenhall, presenters)
Click here for a copy of the slideshow
Click here for copy of the handout
Click here for Video on Deman
Earlier Topics
- F.I.R.E. XXII:"Material Transfer Agreements—Friend, or Foe?"
- F.I.R.E. XXI: "What Is an Invention?"
- F.I.R.E. XX: "Funding a Business through SBIR/STTR Grants"
- F.I.R.E. XIX: "Protecting Your Assets while Growing Your Company"†
- F.I.R.E. XVIII: "Consulting Agreements—What to Look for...What to Watch Out for"
- F.I.R.E. XVII: "Venture Capital 101"† Click here for link to white paper on this topic
- F.I.R.E. XVI: "Patent Infringement: What It Is and What It Isn't and Why It Matters to You"
- F.I.R.E. XV: "Conflict of Interest Policy at the University of Rochester"
- F.I.R.E. XIV: "Careers in Technology Transfer"
- F.I.R.E. XIII: "Patenting Research Tools—What You Get and How to Get It"
- F.I.R.E. XII: "Patent Law 101"
- F.I.R.E. XI: "Navigating Technology Transfer II—Behind the Research—What the Offices of Research and Project Administration, Corporate Alliances, and Technology Transfer Can Do for You"
- F.I.R.E. X : "25 Years of Bayh-Dole—Just What Is Technology Transfer?"
- F.I.R.E. IX: “Business Entity Selection”
- F.I.R.E. VIII: “The Role of Laboratory Notebooks in Protecting (or Failing to Protect) Your Intellectual Property”
- F.I.R.E. VII: “Funding a New Venture”
- F.I.R.E. VI : “How to Recognize an Invention”
- F.I.R.E. V: “Starting a Business—The Right Way”
- F.I.R.E. IV: “The NIH and You— a New Policy on Data Sharing”
- F.I.R.E. III: “Navigating Technology Transfer I—The URMC Office of Technology Transfer: Who We Are and What We Do”
- F.I.R.E. II: “Accelerating the Development of New Technology Ventures in Greater Rochester”†
- F.I.R.E. I: “Reality IP: Why Patents Matter in the University Setting”
†At the author's request, a copy of this presentation has not been made available here.
The F.I.R.E. Series
For Inventors, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs
This is a regular lecture series designed to educate the University community about what it means to be an inventor, what every researcher should know in order to protect potential intellectual property rights, and the complexities of starting a business.
12:00 PM on the second Tuesday of the month. Check specific event for location.

