The Griffith Hack Life Sciences and Chemical Group is a multi-disciplinary practice group which has expertise in all fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and pharmacology, including microbiology, immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics and genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, protein chemistry and plant agricultural biotechnology, polymer science, organic and inorganic chemistry, physical and applied chemistry, surface chemistry, food science, cosmetics, agrichemistry, environmental science and speciality chemicals.

All of our professionals are educated and experienced in a many aspects of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and pharmacology, and have particular skills in the protection and exploitation of intellectual property relating to these fields. The attorneys in the Life Sciences and Chemical Group stay up-to-date with technology developments, and regularly present information on intellectual property issues within their fields.

The Life Sciences and Chemical Group provides a complete, high-standard service, including drafting new patent applications, providing infringement advice, running Australian patent oppositions and prosecuting patent applications in all countries. We have an excellent relationship with associate patent attorney firms, particularly in the United States and Europe. Some of our attorneys have spent time working for our associate firms to enhance their foreign law knowledge and build strong relationships with those firms. Our group members also deal with filing and prosecution of applications in Australia for foreign clients.

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Our professionals work with inventions in the following specific fields:

Microbiology

The Biotechnology Group has experience in a diverse range of areas within the microbiology field, including molecular microbiology, food microbiology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, fermentation techniques, antimicrobial technology, microbial toxicology and infectious disease.

Immunology

Several practitioners have significant research experience in areas of immunology. This knowledge assists our group's practice in cellular immunology, transplantation biology, immunogenetics, allergy, cancer immunotherapy, cytokine biology, neuroimmunology, immunoassay and diagnostic technologies, vaccine technology, hybridoma technology, recombinant antibody production, cellular immune systems and humoral cellular biology.

Cell Biology

The group's focus on cell biology includes inventions related to cell culture and cell culture techniques, transfection and transformation techniques, developmental biology, pluripotent and haemopoietic stem cell technology, in situ labelling techniques and signal transduction assays.

Molecular Biology

Molecular Biology is a specialisation for several of the group's professionals, particularly in the areas of microarray technology, subtractive and in situ hybridisation techniques, PCR-based techniques, antisense DNA/RNA technology, DNA and RNA synthesis, catalytic DNA and RNA, sequencing techniques, DNA and RNA isolation techniques and DNA and RNA footprinting techniques. Other specialisations include gene expression analyses including CAT and luciferase assays, gel shift assays, RNAse protection assays, cloning techniques and protein expression systems, site-directed mutagenesis and homologous recombination.

Genetics and Genomics

Genetics and genomics continue to have a growing impact on many important industries. Several of our attorneys have significant research and intellectual property protection experience in microbial, plant and mammal genetics and genome analysis. The group also includes professionals with particular expertise in animal breeding, plant breeding, microbial strain development, transgenic plant and animal technology, knockout gene technology, nucleic acid sequence analysis and physical mapping with microsatellites, RFLPs and pharmacogenomics.

Bioinformatics

The group's practice focuses on inventions related to microarray, nucleic acid and amino acid sequence, proteomics and immunoassay data.

Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry

The Biotechnology Group's extensive experience in this area includes protection on isolation and analytical methods for biomolecules, receptor-ligand interactions, carbohydrate chemistry, enzymology, lipid-based technology, protein structure-function analysis and amino acid sequence analysis. Our practitioners also have expertise in protein labelling techniques, protein phosphorylation, signal transduction, protein modification, proteoglycan biochemistry and separation techniques such as HPLC, 2D gel electrophoresis, protein sequencing, mass spectrometry, carbohydrate biochemistry and capillary electrophoresis.

Plant and Agricultural Biotechnology

Our professionals are experienced in obtaining protection for plants via both the patent system and plant breeders' rights for inventions on plant biology and plant genetics, including plant culture, transfection of plant cells, transgenic plant technology, hybrid plant development and plant genomics.

Pharmaceuticals & Pharmacology

Practitioners working in these areas have research and industry experience, and use that background to assist clients with intellectual property protection for inventions including therapeutic drugs for humans and animals, methods of treatment, pharmaceutical formulations, drug delivery mechanisms, drug synthesis and various areas of medicine.

Polymer Chemistry

Our attorneys have significant experience in polymer chemistry, including a wide range of polymeric materials and processes for their production. Our specific expertise includes polyolefin compositions, thermoplastic compositions, catalysts and catalyst components for polymerisation reactions, organometallic catalysts and various types of coatings.

Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Physical and Applied Chemistry

Inventions in all these areas of chemistry are handled by our group members. Specific areas of expertise include synthesis of compounds, cleaning solutions and bleaching solutions, and water filtration technology.

Agrichemistry

Our practitioners combine their knowledge and experience in agrichemistry to provide the highest standard service in areas including veterinary products, pesticidal and herbicidal compositions, speciality chemicals, agricultural chemicals and plant growth regulating compositions.

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