Harris has twenty years of broad experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, medical diagnostics and therapeutics, including preparation and prosecution of patent applications, negotiation and drafting of all types of transactional agreements, hiring and managing R&D consultants, and preparation of patentability and infringement opinions. General areas of technical expertise include stem cells, small and large therapeutic molecules, molecular diagnostics, medicinal chemistry, medical devices, encapsulated systems for delivery of biologics, compounds and methods for growing tissues.
Harris received a Ph.D. in genetics from University of California Davis, and after receipt of this degree, joined the faculty of Cornell University as assistant professor of genetics. Prior to receiving his J.D., Harris worked as a free-lance journalist, reporting for the New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune on new technologies in human reproduction. He also served as Senior Science Writer for Biology & Medicine, published by the University of Chicago. Prior to joining the Eclipse Group, LLP, he practiced patent law in some of the major San Diego law firms and served as in-house counsel to a San Diego stem cell therapy company.
Harris is a member of the State Bar of California and registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Harris’ areas of significant technology expertise include:
- DNA and gene testing; other nucleic acids, including antisense oligonucleotides, methods of delivering antisense oligonucleotides to tissues, and methods of use for controlling cell proliferation
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Gene cloning and other recombinant means for producing variant proteins, recombinant enzymes, methods of use
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Molecular diagnostics
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Adult stem cells
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Medicinal chemistry
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Medical devices
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Encapsulated systems for delivery of biologics
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Immunochemistry, use of compounds for immunomodulation; monoclonal antibodies in diagnosis and treatment; methods for producing monoclonals; derivatized antibody carriers to target tissues; methods to enhance antibody transport; anti-idiotype antibodies in cancer therapy
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Chimeric peptides for delivery of compounds through tissue barriers
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Viruses and vaccines
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Compounds and methods for growing tissues
- J.D. Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California, 1989
- Ph.D. in Genetics, University of California, Davis, 1974
- B.A. in Biology, California State University, Northridge, 1969
- United States Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit, Washington, D.C. Summer Clerk; for Chief Judge Helen W. Nies, Summer 1989